Cirque de l'etoile filante. - [ROUAULT'S MAGNUM OPUS]

"ROUAULT, GEORGES.

Verlag:

Paris, Ambroise Vollard, 1938. Folio. 44 x 32 cm. Bound with the original wrappers in an absolutely magnificent black full morocco binding lavishly decorated on both boards in an explosive, irradiant pattern made up of gilt lines that radiate from an oval centre, crossing each other at numerous points and covering the entire boards. The crossings of the lines create smaller and larger spaces, of which ca. half are left to show the black morrocco, whereas the other half of spaces are with calf inlays of varying colours. The spaces towards the oval centre are with yellow and white calf onlays, whereas the larger inlaid spaces are with green calf. Along the lower part of the binding is an onlaid border of burgundy morocco that runs from cover to cover, over the spine. Spine with gilt lettering.Yellow suede end-papers with burgundy morocco borders. All edges gilt, with single-leaf gilding. Just a touch of wear along edges of boards. In splendid condition. Housed in a black chemise with black morocco spine with gilt lettering and a black slip-case with black morocco edges. Slip-case with a bit of wear. Binding signed "Paul Bonet" to inside of front board and dated "1953" to inside of back board. (3) ff., (2), 168, (8, -including final blank) pp. + 17 original coloured plates + 17 original etched plates in black and white, signed by Rouault. In splendid condition. Fully complete with all the 17 aquatint and lift-ground aquatint etched plates plates (many with drypoint and/or roulette by Rouault and printed in colour by Roger Lacourière), the extra suite of 17 engraved plates in black and white that are signed by Rouault, and the 74 woodcut illustrations in the text, by Georges Aubert after Rouault, of which 13 are full-page. A truly splendid copy in one of Bonet's most impressive bindings of Rouault's masterpiece publication, being copy nr. 22 out of 35 copies on Japon impérial (premier papier), signed by Rouault and with an extra suite of 17 plates all signed by Rouault - out of a total of 280 numbered copies (of which only the first 35 are signed by Rouault and have the extra suite). The binding, which is of the most famous and splendid type of Bonet-bindings, is described in the "Carnets" of Paul Bonet, nr. 1.032. "En 1942 j'avais, pour relier un exemplaire du "Cirque", établi un décor géométrique régulier. Cette composition était demeurée unique. C'est seulement pour cette nouvelle série que j'ai songé utiliser cette forme beaucoup plus libre. Troisième reliure sur cette ouvrage" (i.e. In 1942, to bind a copy of the "Cirque", I established a regular geometric decoration. This composition remained unique. It was only for this new series that I thought about using this much freer form. Third binding on this work). The pioneering expressionist painter Georges Rouault was not only one of the major figures of 20th century painting, but also a major figure in modern printmaking. One of Rouault?s favoured themes is that of the circus, where his interest dwelled on the contrast of the brightness and seeming happiness with the sadness of circus life. Best known for his thick black brushstrokes that outline their subjects and the bright and colourful works that mimic the technique of stained glass, with Rouault, the theme of the circus came to take on a form that is like none other in the history of art, revealing the ?reflection of paradise lost? Fascinated by Rouault?s unique techniques and use of colour, the famous publisher and art dealer Ambroise Vollard bought Rouault's entire production in 1913 and became his exclusive dealer. He later commissioned Rouault to do series of prints and book illustrations, of which the ?Cirque? became the most impressive and most important, his printed magnum opus. Rouault?s unorthodox use of the etching and aquatint mediums resulted in a work of unprecedented color harmonies and expressive power. The project of ?Cirque? (i.e ?The Shooting Star Circus?) was undertaken in 1926 and was originally intende. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 61364

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Cirque de l'etoile filante. - [ROUAULT'S ...
Einband: Softcover
Signiert: Signatur des Verfassers