Paul Éluard & Jacques Villon — Jacques Villon ou L’Art Glorieux, 1948 — Presentation Copy to Fiske Kimball — 7 Color Lithographs

Paul Éluard & René-Jean — Jacques Villon ou L’Art Glorieux, 1948

Presentation Copy to Fiske Kimball — Seven Original Color Lithographs by Jacques Villon

Paul Éluard (1895–1952)
René-Jean (1879–1951)
Jacques Villon (1875–1963), illustrator
Jacques Villon ou L’Art Glorieux
Paris: Louis Carré, 1948

A particularly desirable presentation copy of this important postwar monograph on Jacques Villon, personally inscribed by Paul Éluard to Fiske Kimball, the influential American art historian and longtime director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Éluard has written on the half-title:

“à Monsieur Fiske Kimball en hommage, Paul Éluard”

First edition, lettered “JV/XXII”, printed on Vélin du Marais, from a total edition of 1,800 copies.

The volume is illustrated with seven original color lithographs by Jacques Villon, including the frontispiece, printed by the celebrated Mourlot workshop in Paris, together with additional black-and-white and in-text illustrations.

Éluard’s contribution celebrates Villon’s art, while René-Jean provides the principal critical study. Published by the Galerie Louis Carré at a moment of renewed international recognition for Villon, the book combines poetry, criticism, and original lithography in a refined example of the French postwar livre d’artiste.

Fiske Kimball Association

Fiske Kimball (1888–1955) was one of the most influential American museum directors and architectural historians of the twentieth century. He served as director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1925 until his death in 1955, dramatically expanding the museum and helping establish its international reputation.

The direct presentation from Éluard to Kimball gives this copy a notable connection between the postwar Parisian avant-garde and one of the leading figures in American museum culture.

Bound in the publisher’s stiff yellow wrappers printed in red and green, with the original glassine, and preserved in an orange cloth chemise and slipcase.

Edition: Lettered “JV/XXII”; total edition 1,800 copies
Inscribed: Presentation inscription from Paul Éluard to Fiske Kimball
Illustrations: Seven original color lithographs by Jacques Villon, plus additional illustrations
Paper: Vélin du Marais
Publisher: Louis Carré, Paris
Date: 1948
Language: French
Reference: Freitag 13130

Provenance

Fiske Kimball (1888–1955), director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; presentation inscription from Paul Éluard.

Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, Books on Art..., January 13–14, 1959, Lot 503.

Special Collections and Rare Book Collection, University of the Arts Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Condition

Near fine. The book and lithographs are well preserved. Original wrappers and glassine retained, with the volume housed in an orange cloth chemise and slipcase.

An exceptional association copy combining Paul Éluard’s presentation inscription, Fiske Kimball provenance, a special lettered limitation, and seven original color lithographs by Jacques Villon.