L'Arme Secrete
L'Arme Secrete (1963) by Philippe Soupault, illustrated by André Masson, is a significant work that highlights the deep connections between literature and art in post-war France. This book, showcasing the collaboration between a former surrealist and one of the most eminent graphic artists of his time, testifies to a continuous artistic dialogue that blurs the boundaries between text and image. Masson's vibrant, expressive line drawings capture the atmosphere of Soupault's poetic prose, creating a visual and literary whole that transcends the traditional concept of the illustrated book. It is a sought-after object that documents the legacy of Surrealism and the evolution of modern book art in the twentieth century. This edition stands out for its aesthetic and bibliographical care, which makes it a prized collector's item and underlines the artistic ambitions of both the author and the illustrator.
Quantity
Soupault, Philippe
Masson, André
L'Arme Secrete
1946 | Paris | Bordas
An illustrated book celebrating the collaboration between Surrealist poet Philippe Soupault and visionary artist André Masson.
L'Arme Secrete (1963) by Philippe Soupault, illustrated by André Masson, is a significant work that highlights the deep connections between literature and art in post-war France. This book, showcasing the collaboration between a former surrealist and one of the most eminent graphic artists of his time, testifies to a continuous artistic dialogue that blurs the boundaries between text and image. Masson's vibrant, expressive line drawings capture the atmosphere of Soupault's poetic prose, creating a visual and literary whole that transcends the traditional concept of the illustrated book. It is a sought-after object that documents the legacy of Surrealism and the evolution of modern book art in the twentieth century. This edition stands out for its aesthetic and bibliographical care, which makes it a prized collector's item and underlines the artistic ambitions of both the author and the illustrator.
€560
Condition Report:
In-Depth Study
References & Bibliography
Format
In-4 (Quarto) approx. 25 × 32 cm
Edition Particulars
vélin pur chiffon de Rives
Print Run
340
Paper
Rives
Product DETAIL
L'Arme Secrete is a work of poetic prose in which Philippe Soupault explores the boundary between dream and reality. The text, sprinkled with surrealist elements, follows a stream of consciousness that takes the reader on an inner journey. The themes revolve around secret weapons, which can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically as the forces that guide and influence human existence. This work aligns with the experimental nature of the author, who, as one of the founders of Surrealism, constantly challenged literary conventions. The sentences are often fragmented and full of symbolism, which enhances the elusive and suggestive tone of the work.
Michaux, Henri · Bettencourt, Pierre
Arriver à se réveiller
A rare first edition of Arriver à se réveiller, written by Henri Michaux in the tremulous post-war years. The text unfolds as an inward journey toward lucidity, where sleep and waking mirror each other. Printed and published by Pierre Bettencourt in his own workshop, the edition’s small run preserves the work’s intimacy. The title-page vignette, a linocut by Bettencourt, sets a spare, rhythmic visual key that amplifies Michaux’s vigilant, vulnerable tone. This copy is handsomely bound in brown morocco with balsa boards by Miguet, a tactile nod to lightness under tension. For bibliophiles, it is an exemplary union of poetry, craft, and experiment. The volume embodies the independence of the post-war small press and Michaux’s radical sensitivity.
Illustrated Book
€680
Éluard, Paul
Au rendez-vous allemand
Au rendez-vous allemand is one of the emblematic collections of Éluard’s wartime poetry. The book appeared in 1944 from Les Éditions de Minuit, the publishing house that, under the Occupation, became a moral landmark of the French literary Resistance. The volume gathers poems in which love, mourning, revolt and hope appear not as abstractions but as immediate necessities under German rule. The frontispiece, a portrait of the poet after Picasso, gives the book a powerful artistic signature: two voices of modern France, poet and artist, stand here in the same struggle. This is an ordinary, unnumbered copy, but signed by Éluard on the first page. That signature makes the book more than a Resistance document: it becomes a tangible witness to literary presence in a historically charged year. For the collector, it unites the clandestine aura of Minuit, Picasso’s name and Éluard’s own hand.
Illustrated Book
€350
Gracq, Julien · Bellmer, Hans
André Breton. Quelques aspects de l'écrivain.
A rare homage by Julien Gracq to André Breton, published by José Corti in a limited edition of 70 copies. This essay is both a powerful literary portrait and a visual tribute, thanks to Hans Bellmer’s iconic line portrait on the cover. Bellmer, known for his surrealist and psychosexual art, ties the book to the avant-garde movements of the 20th century. Gracq’s analysis is rigorous and insightful, reflecting his close engagement with Breton’s ideas. The collaboration between these two major figures and the fine print quality make this a coveted item for collectors of surrealist literature.
Illustrated Book
€500
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