Jean Cassou / Johnny Friedlaender - Petit Bestiaire - 1963
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Petit Bestiaire, a bilingual livre d’artiste by Jean Cassou and Johnny Friedlaender, published by Manus Presse in Stuttgart in 1963, a first edition limited to 240 copies (this copy numbered 61–240) with eleven original aquatint etchings signed by the artist, loose sheets in the publisher’s portfolio, measuring 50 × 34 cm and in very good condition.
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Description from the seller
CASSOU, Jean & FRIEDLAENDER, Johnny.
Petit Bestiaire.
Stuttgart: Manus Presse, [1963].
First edition. A true livre d’artiste: loose, thread-stitched sheets of BFK Rives in the publisher’s portfolio, with eleven original etchings with aquatint by Johnny Friedlaender, printed in sepia and each signed in pencil by the artist: ten full-page plates and one on the cover. The plates show Vol d’oiseaux, Coq, Chèvres, Vache, Hibou, Oiseaux, Poissons, Chats, Chevaux and Béliers.
Friedlaender’s animals are built from fragments, textures and floating forms, more remembered or dreamed than observed: a modern counterpart to the half-imagined creatures of the medieval bestiary.
With title, imprint and text by Jean Cassou, in French and German. Original cloth portfolio, gilt-stamped (by H. Wennberg, Stuttgart).
No. 237 of 180 copies on Rives (numbered 61–240), from a total edition of 240; the justification bears the publisher’s stamp but is not separately signed.
A lovely copy. Slight marking to the cloth of the portfolio and fractional fading to the black of the spine. A little darkening to the top edges of the sheets, and a couple of small spots to the title leaf of one plate. The text and etchings themselves are immaculate. 500 × 340 mm (19¾ × 13½ inches).
Johnny Friedlaender (1912–1992) was born in Upper Silesia and trained in Breslau. As a Jewish artist he was persecuted by the Nazis; he left Germany and eventually settled in Paris, where after the war he became one of the great masters of aquatint, the etching technique that creates areas of tone rather than line. His Paris workshop trained a generation of printmakers.
Jean Cassou (1897–1986) was a poet, novelist and art critic. A member of the Resistance, he was imprisoned by the Vichy regime, and composed his celebrated 33 sonnets composés au secret in his cell, without paper. After the Liberation he became the first director of France’s Musée National d’Art Moderne (1945–65), and he was one of the most influential figures in French art of his time.
The Manus Presse, founded in Stuttgart in 1948 by Albert Kapr and Gerd Hatje, was one of the most important European fine-art presses of the post-war period. It specialised in high-quality artists’ books and typographic editions, often in collaboration with major artists and writers.
50 x 34 cm.
Seller's Story
We are professional booksellers based in France, and have been members of ILAB for many years. We currently hold full membership of SLAM, as well as other organisations. We also sell at fairs and markets across Europe.
We are often found at brocantes and marches, searching for books and prints. We are also always interested in acquiring new stock from individuals, so if you have books or prints to sell, do get in touch.
We are proud to purchase biodegradable packaging and materials. Where possible, all of our book wrap and tape are compostable or re-cyclable. If you do receive any plastic bubble wrap from us - it is because we are re-using items we have received.
CASSOU, Jean & FRIEDLAENDER, Johnny.
Petit Bestiaire.
Stuttgart: Manus Presse, [1963].
First edition. A true livre d’artiste: loose, thread-stitched sheets of BFK Rives in the publisher’s portfolio, with eleven original etchings with aquatint by Johnny Friedlaender, printed in sepia and each signed in pencil by the artist: ten full-page plates and one on the cover. The plates show Vol d’oiseaux, Coq, Chèvres, Vache, Hibou, Oiseaux, Poissons, Chats, Chevaux and Béliers.
Friedlaender’s animals are built from fragments, textures and floating forms, more remembered or dreamed than observed: a modern counterpart to the half-imagined creatures of the medieval bestiary.
With title, imprint and text by Jean Cassou, in French and German. Original cloth portfolio, gilt-stamped (by H. Wennberg, Stuttgart).
No. 237 of 180 copies on Rives (numbered 61–240), from a total edition of 240; the justification bears the publisher’s stamp but is not separately signed.
A lovely copy. Slight marking to the cloth of the portfolio and fractional fading to the black of the spine. A little darkening to the top edges of the sheets, and a couple of small spots to the title leaf of one plate. The text and etchings themselves are immaculate. 500 × 340 mm (19¾ × 13½ inches).
Johnny Friedlaender (1912–1992) was born in Upper Silesia and trained in Breslau. As a Jewish artist he was persecuted by the Nazis; he left Germany and eventually settled in Paris, where after the war he became one of the great masters of aquatint, the etching technique that creates areas of tone rather than line. His Paris workshop trained a generation of printmakers.
Jean Cassou (1897–1986) was a poet, novelist and art critic. A member of the Resistance, he was imprisoned by the Vichy regime, and composed his celebrated 33 sonnets composés au secret in his cell, without paper. After the Liberation he became the first director of France’s Musée National d’Art Moderne (1945–65), and he was one of the most influential figures in French art of his time.
The Manus Presse, founded in Stuttgart in 1948 by Albert Kapr and Gerd Hatje, was one of the most important European fine-art presses of the post-war period. It specialised in high-quality artists’ books and typographic editions, often in collaboration with major artists and writers.
50 x 34 cm.
Seller's Story
We are professional booksellers based in France, and have been members of ILAB for many years. We currently hold full membership of SLAM, as well as other organisations. We also sell at fairs and markets across Europe.
We are often found at brocantes and marches, searching for books and prints. We are also always interested in acquiring new stock from individuals, so if you have books or prints to sell, do get in touch.
We are proud to purchase biodegradable packaging and materials. Where possible, all of our book wrap and tape are compostable or re-cyclable. If you do receive any plastic bubble wrap from us - it is because we are re-using items we have received.
Details
Number of books
1
Subject
Animals, Art, Illustrated, Literature, Poetry
Book title
Petit Bestiaire
Author/ Illustrator
Jean Cassou / Johnny Friedlaender
Condition
Very good
Publication year oldest item
1963
Height
500 mm
Edition
Limited edition, Numbered edition
Width
340 mm
Language
Bilingual, French, German
Original language
Yes
Publisher
Stuttgart: Manus Presse
Binding/ Material
Portfolio
Extras
Signed by illustrator
Number of pages
16
Style
Surrealism
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