Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Baudelaire, Charles. Gruber, Francis. Le Spleen de Paris (Quinze petit poèmes en prose).

With 15 orig. lithographs by Francis Gruber, repeated in Sepia as an extra suite on China. 102, (10) SS. Folio. Loose quires as issued in orig. printed wrappers, sleeve and slipcase (the last one faded in parts and somewhat worn). – N. pl., Fequet et Baudier for Les éditions du grenier a sel, 1954.

No. 1 of 20 copies on Japon Nacré with the extra suite on China paper of a total limited edition of 132. The only book illustrated by Francis Gruber (1912–1948), published six years after his death only, while the lithographs were created in 1945 already. Gruber started his career as an artist at the age of 18 with the participation of the Salon de l’automne in the Tuileries and awarded with the “Prix national de peinture” in 1947. In 1938, Gruber became acquainted with Alberto Giacometti who later on was his friendly consultant and who painted his grave in Thoméry. Nobody lesser than Louis Aragon had the speech at Gruber’s funeral. Gruber has to be considered as one of the few representatives of the expressionist movement in France. “On peut penser que Gruber eut tort de peindre une oeuvre qui n’appartient pas à son temps, mais on ne peut nier le pouvoir d’envoûtement de cette oeuvre” (Bénézit). – Monod 1174. – Inside fine. – Best.-Nr. 12395