La guerre et la paix

*Lettres d’Espagne*, published in 1944, marks a pivotal moment in Antoni Clavé's career and is among the most sought-after 'livres d'artiste' from the war years. The Catalan artist, having recently fled to Paris, found in Prosper Mérimée's texts the perfect opportunity to express his nostalgia and passion for Spanish culture. The 27 original lithographs burst with color and baroque energy, showcasing Clavé's legendary mastery of lithography. This specific copy is of museum-grade rarity: it is enriched with an original gouache by the master himself, as well as two complete suites of the lithographs. The combination of Mérimée's classic prose and Clavé's spirited imagery creates a visual spectacle that captures the Spanish soul in all its facets. For the discerning bibliophile, this copy represents the ultimate synthesis of unique artistry and high-end bookmaking.

*Une aventure méthodique* brings together Pierre Reverdy’s concentrated poetic prose and Georges Braque’s austere visual language. It belongs among the major post-war French livres d’artiste, where text, lithography and typography meet as equal forces. Braque contributed 27 original lithographs, supplemented by colour reproductions after his paintings, giving the volume both intimacy and monumentality. Printed by Mourlot, the celebrated Paris lithographic workshop, the book has exceptional technical refinement. This copy, on vélin d’Arches and signed by both author and artist, preserves a rare encounter between modern poetry and pictorial invention.

Hélène chez Archimède is a remarkable example of the collaboration between a poet and a visual artist, in this case the French author André Suarès and the legendary Spanish master Pablo Picasso. The edition, illustrated with wood engravings, reveals the complex interplay between word and image that culminated in the production of illustrated books in the mid-20th century. This work, originally a project by the famous art dealer Ambroise Vollard, shows the enduring relevance of classical themes, here the myth of Helen, in a modernist context. Thanks to its careful execution and the exclusivity of its print run, Hélène chez Archimède is not only a literary work but also an art object, a testament to the artisanal perfection sought by the Nouveau Cercle parisien du Livre. It represents a significant moment in the history of the modern illustrated book, where the line between illustration and autonomous art blurs. The additions to this copy, such as a menu and an announcement leaflet, enrich its bibliographic and historical value and offer a rare glimpse into its publication context.

*Bitran. L’Atelier* is a refined bibliophile artist’s publication devoted to Albert Bitran’s studio world, introduced by the critic Georges Boudaille. It brings together text, image, and object in the spirit of the post-war livre d’artiste: not merely as a monograph, but as a tactile approach to the artist’s working space. The folio format and portfolio presentation give it the character of a studio dossier rather than an ordinary book. This copy is one of only fifteen deluxe copies printed on mould-made Arches vellum. Bitran’s signed presentation inscription to Bernard Gheerbrandt, enhanced with a small original drawing, makes it a remarkable association copy.