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Abracadabra.

Name: Abracadabra.
SKU: ABRA-001
Price: 750 EUR
Availability: InStock

SKU ABRA-001

"Abracadabra" by Pierre Lecuire, illustrated by Serge Charchoune, is a rare and artistically significant work that explores the boundaries of typography and visual art. This is an original edition that highlights the unique collaboration between poet and artist, where text and image unite in a harmonious and innovative way. The book presents a fascinating series of engravings, lithographs, and facsimile reproductions, immersing the reader in a visual and literary universe. The work is not only an aesthetic feat but also an important document in the history of the illustrated book. It embodies the experimental spirit of its time and offers a profound insight into the artistic synergy between Lecuire's poetry and Charchoune's distinctive visual language. The meticulous execution and luxurious presentation make it a highly sought-after object for collectors and enthusiasts of avant-garde art and literature. This copy, one of the rare numbered editions, adds to the exclusivity and historical value of this extraordinary project.",

Quantity

Lecuire, Pierre

Serge Charchoune

Abracadabra.

1971 | Paris | Lecuire, Pierre

Two signatures on one sheet of vélin d'Arches. The painter's and the poet's hands, equally present, without hierarchy.

€750

Condition Report:

In-Depth Study

References & Bibliography

Format

Oblong

Edition Particulars

1 of 54 on large vélin d'Arches, signed by the painter and the poet.

Print Run

76 Copy Number

43 Paper

vélin d’Arches

Product DETAIL

"Abracadabra" is a unique collection primarily composed of 46 unpublished letters, cards, and writings by Serge Charchoune, complemented by an unpublished poem by Pierre Lecuire. The work offers a deep insight into Charchoune's personal and artistic correspondence, making his thoughts and creative process understandable. These texts are combined with Charchoune's characteristic illustrations, including original engravings and lithographs, which visually enrich the content. The book functions as a dialogue between word and image, where the visual elements not only accompany the written contributions but also form an essential part of the overall aesthetic experience. It is a valuable document for the study of French post-war art and literature, illustrating the symbiose between textual and visual expression.

ARTISTIC RELEVANCE

Serge Charchoune's illustrations in "Abracadabra" are characterized by a unique blend of abstract and figurative elements, often with an organic feel. His technique includes original engravings, color lithographs, and facsimile reproductions of both drawings and handwritten texts, emphasizing the personal and experimental nature of his work. Charchoune's style, which evolved from Cubist influences towards more abstract and almost monochrome compositions later in his career, is evident here in a phase where he experimented with playful lines and 'imaginary writings.' These graphic experiments are not only visually appealing but also add a deeper, symbolic layer to Lecuire's poetry. The use of both subtle and expressive elements demonstrates his mastery in creating a visual dialogue with the text.

AVANT GARDE CONTEXT

Serge Charchoune was a significant figure in the Parisian avant-garde, particularly within the Dada movement. After fleeing Russia and residing in Barcelona, where he came into contact with figures like Francis Picabia and Albert Gleizes, he became deeply involved in Dada. He participated in important Dada manifestations, such as the Barrès trial organized by André Breton, and exhibited his work at the Salon Dada. Charchoune's "mechanical drawings" and his participation in the publication of "Foule immobile" show his affinity with the experimental and revolutionary nature of Dada, although he would later forge his own, more independent path. His involvement in the Russian Dada movement with the founding of "Palata Poetov" in 1921 and the publication of the Dada magazine "Perevoz Dada" in Berlin in 1922 underscore his broad engagement with this influential movement. Although he later distanced himself from organized movements, the anti-aesthetic and libertarian spirit of Dada remained a constant in his oeuvre.

PLACE IN THE OEUVRE

"Abracadabra" is a key work in the oeuvre of Pierre Lecuire, who was known for his unique biblio philic editions, often in collaboration with leading artists. For Serge Charchoune, this book marks a period when his style, after a period of purism, became increasingly abstract and minimalist, with a focus on the essence of form and line. This work can be considered a culmination of their joint artistic production, where the synergy between Lecuire's text and Charchoune's images is particularly strong. It reflects the maturity of Charchoune's artistic vision and his ability to translate complex emotions and ideas into abstract forms.

PUBLISHING CONTEXT

The publication of "Abracadabra" is a prime example of a bibliophile project, published in a very limited edition. The collaboration between Pierre Lecuire and Serge Charchoune was characteristic of Lecuire's publishing practice, which focused on creating works of art in book form. The book was printed on high-quality vélin d'Arches paper, emphasizing the luxury and exclusivity of the edition. The meticulous execution of the engravings and lithographs contributes to the reputation of this edition as a masterpiece of book art.

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Arrière-histoire du poème pulvérisé

*Arrière-histoire du poème pulvérisé* is a later illustrated edition of a key text in which René Char looks back on the genesis and inner background of *Le Poème pulvérisé*. Published in 1972 by Imprimerie Union, it opens with a colour frontispiece by Nicolas de Staël. The pairing of Char and de Staël is especially charged: two post-war voices, each seeking concentration, clarity, and rupture in his own medium. This copy is one of only six hors commerce copies on Arches and is signed. The autograph presentation inscription to Doctor Marcel Zara, with poetic quotation and October 1972 dating, makes it a deeply personal copy.