Intermezzo
€610.00
The literary collaboration between the post-Expressionist poet Paul van Ostaijen and the graphic artist Joris Minne culminated in this limited bibliophile edition of Intermezzo (1929). Although Van Ostaijen died in 1928, this work captures the artistic spirit of the Antwerp avant-garde circles. It combines Van Ostaijen's sharp, modern prose with Minne's dynamic, often Expressionistic woodcuts, a key figure in the revival of Flemish graphic art. The choice of an exclusive print run on handmade Pannekoek paper and the illustrator's signature emphasize the bibliophile nature of the work. The book is a rare testament to the dialogue between literature and visual arts in the interwar period, and its publication by Bibliofielen Vereeniging Tijl highlights the appreciation for high-quality book production. It is a crucial object for the study of both Flemish modern poetry and graphic art history. The three woodcuts provide a visual 'intermezzo' to the text. This is an exceptionally fine and complete copy.
Quantity
Ostaijen, Paul van
Joris Minne
Intermezzo
1929 | Antwerpen | Bibliofielen Vereeniging Tijl
This signed deluxe copy on Pannekoek paper is a masterpiece of post-war Flemish book art, bringing together avant-garde literature and the renewed graphic technique of the interwar period.
The literary collaboration between the post-Expressionist poet Paul van Ostaijen and the graphic artist Joris Minne culminated in this limited bibliophile edition of Intermezzo (1929). Although Van Ostaijen died in 1928, this work captures the artistic spirit of the Antwerp avant-garde circles. It combines Van Ostaijen's sharp, modern prose with Minne's dynamic, often Expressionistic woodcuts, a key figure in the revival of Flemish graphic art. The choice of an exclusive print run on handmade Pannekoek paper and the illustrator's signature emphasize the bibliophile nature of the work. The book is a rare testament to the dialogue between literature and visual arts in the interwar period, and its publication by Bibliofielen Vereeniging Tijl highlights the appreciation for high-quality book production. It is a crucial object for the study of both Flemish modern poetry and graphic art history. The three woodcuts provide a visual 'intermezzo' to the text. This is an exceptionally fine and complete copy.
€610
Condition Report:
In-Depth Study
References & Bibliography
Format
In-8 (Octavo) approx. 20 × 26 cm
Edition Particulars
1 of 75 numbered copies on handmade Pannekoek laid paper. Signed by Joris Minne.
Print Run
85
Copy Number
33
Paper
Pannekoek vergé
Inscription
Signed by the Illustrator
1
Edition Particulars:
We welcome private inquiries, collaborations with institutions, and acquisition requests. Each message is treated with discretion and respect. We welcome private inquiries, collaborations with institutions, and acquisition requests.
1
Print Run:
Condition Report:
1
Copy Number:
Condition Report:
1
Paper:
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1
Signed:
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Product DETAIL
Intermezzo is a collection of prose texts or 'grotesques' by Paul van Ostaijen, characterized by his typical blend of humor, satire, and existential reflection. The texts are fragmented, experimental, and often critical of the bourgeois society of his time. The themes revolve around the observation of modern city life, the alienation of the individual, and the search for a new literary form. The work can be considered a transitional phase in his oeuvre, where he moves away from pure Expressionism to explore new, more Dadaist and abstract paths. Minne's illustrations reinforce this atmosphere of alienation and social critique. The book is exemplary of Flemish modern literature from the interwar period.
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*Le livre de Mariage* stands among Josef Sima’s earliest and most refined experiments at the intersection of poetry, typography, and image. This Paris edition of 1922 gathers nuptial and love poems by Symbolist and related writers into a carefully orchestrated whole. Sima acted here not only as illustrator, but as the guiding force behind the entire conception. The 31 original woodcuts, both in the text and hors-texte, create a visual rhythm that feels almost musical. The austerity of black and white and the tactile quality of Montval paper deepen the intimacy of the book as object. As an early artist’s book, it already reveals Sima’s gift for fusing literature and image into a single poetic field.
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