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an image of a green and black book with a black coveran open book with a handwritten note on it sitting on a tablean open book with a handwritten note on the inside of itan open book with writing on it sitting on a white surfacean open book with a drawing of a boat in the middle of it
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31 - René CHAR. *Les Compagnons dans le jardin*.
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Estimate €3,000 - €4,000
Sale commission
Description
René CHAR. *Les Compagnons dans le jardin*. Paris, Louis Broder (*Miroir du poète*, II), 1957. Square 12mo; two-colour black and green morocco, untrimmed, gilt head, cover and spine preserved, green cloth slipcase with title label in green morocco (Blaizot). Partly original edition. Printed in a run of 130 copies on Rives vellum paper, signed by the author and the artist. Author’s copy, marked ‘D’. Four original colour etchings by Zao Wou-Ki. The third book illustrated by Zao Wou-Ki, commissioned by the publisher Louis Broder to replace Jacques Villon, whom René Char had initially envisaged. “Broder therefore chose an artist who was part of the revival of abstract painting at the time. Zao Wou-Ki was aware of how fortunate he was to join the pantheon of artists who had illustrated a text by René Char” (Yann Hendgen). The book marked the beginning of a long friendship between the poet and the painter. Autograph inscription signed in red pencil: For René Ménard / from always to always / R.C. With this same red pencil, René Char copied verses from the collection onto blank pages on four separate occasions. At the top of the page, on a tab, is the signed autograph manuscript of an extract from *Dans l’espace*: “The Sun flew low, as low as a bird. The night extinguished them both. I loved them. R.C.” (1 page, in-12). A regular visitor to the Vaucluse, the poet René Ménard (1908–1980) was also a friend of Albert Camus. A curious binding of the period, signed by Blaizot. (Agerup, Catalogue raisonné, nos. 106–109. – Peyré, Peinture et poésie. Le dialogue par le livre, 1874–2000, p. 80.- Yann Hendgen, *Zao Wou-Ki and the Poets*, 2015, p. 91: “This third illustrated book was the first to be produced at the request of a publisher, even though neither the author nor the artist knew each other personally. […] *Les Compagnons dans le jardin* marked the beginning of a friendship with René Char, characterised by numerous exchanges.”)
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About the sale Henri Michaux, the Sven Pitsey collection
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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