Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin
200
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International Postwar Man Ray (born Emanuel Rudnitzky)
Alpha…
See original version (German)
200
-
International Postwar Man Ray (born Emanuel Rudnitzky)
Alpha…
See original version (German)
Estimate €2,500 - €3,000
Voluntary lot
Description
International Postwar
Man Ray (born Emanuel Rudnitzky)
Alphabet pour Adultes. 1970. With an original rayograph, screen-printed in colour, on Velin card, mounted on a wood-veneered board. With the accompanying suite of 36 lithographs, on Arches Velin (watermark), on 22 folded double sheets. The rayograph measures 38 x 28 cm. Signed and numbered. Additionally signed in the colophon. In original envelope, in original linen case. - The rayograph has faint spots in places, isolated slight surface scuffing at the edges; the paper is slightly wavy at the edges; the wood veneer has a few slight bulges at two edges; faint foxing on the reverse. The suite has very occasional tiny brown spots; the linen case shows slight signs of scuffing on the outside, with isolated scuffing in the corners. Overall, in good to very good condition. Excellent print of the full-format illustration.
One of 150 copies of the first edition. – Published by Éditions Pierre Belfond, Paris 1970, printed by Fequet et Baudier, ibid. - Man Ray’s ‘blue baguette’ is his famous surrealist artwork from 1958, which bears the French title *Pain peint* (painted bread). Following on from his English-language ‘Alphabet for Adults’, Man Ray created a French version of his ABC art book for adults in 1970. Rather than drawing on his previous illustrations and words, he created new literary illustrations. Whilst some letters are literal, pictorial representations of themselves, many are of an abstract, surrealist nature requiring more complex interpretation. Man Ray thus subverts the conventional character of the children’s alphabet book genre and contrasts it with a mature adult understanding. Viewed as a whole, the letters he sketched are characterised by a Dadaist, random and seemingly irrational style, yet at the same time they embody themes such as desire, love and human relationships.
With an original Rayograph, screen-printed in colour, on wove card, mounted on a wood-veneer-covered plate. With the accompanying suite of 36 lithographs, on Arches wove paper (with watermark), on 22 folded double sheets. The rayograph is signed and numbered. Additionally signed in the imprint. In its original dust jacket, in its original linen slipcase. - Superb impression of the full-sized image. - One of 150 copies of the first edition. - Published by Éditions Pierre Belfond, Paris 1970, printed by Fequet et Baudier, ibid. - Man Ray’s “Blue Baguette” is his famous surrealist artwork from 1958, which bears the French title *Pain peint* (Painted Bread). Following his English-language ‘Alphabet for Adults’, Man Ray designed a French version of his ABC art book for adults in 1970. Rather than drawing on the previous representations and words, he created new literary illustrations. Whilst some letters offer literal pictorial representations of themselves, many are abstract-surrealist in nature, open to a more complex interpretation. Man Ray thus breaks away from the conventional nature of the children’s alphabet book genre and juxtaposes it with a mature adult perspective. Taken as a whole, the sketched letters are characterised by the Dadaist style of randomness and apparent irrationality, whilst at the same time exploring themes such as desire, love and human relationships.
See original version (German)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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