Temps de Parole

Paris: Editions Andre Biren, 1982. Limited Edition. Folio in a case. Fine. Bertenes, Roger. One of 10 copies with special art, quarto size, [18] pages, four engravings and the special wash, signed by Praillet and Bertenes at the colophon, with a notice of the special exhibit of the artwork, in slipcase. An exquisite fine press publication featuring the poetry of Arthur Praillet (1912-1992) and the artwork of Roger Bertemes (1927-2006), published by Andre Biren who was known for his livres d'artistes.

Both Praillet and Bertemes came from humble familes: Praillet was the son of an electrical fitter; Bertemes father was a suit tailor. Praillet spent most of his career as a clerk and accountant; however, during that time he was associated with Franz Hellens of the journal "Le Disque Vert", "Dire" (the venture of Jean Vodaine), and "Origine", the international poetry publishing house founded by Franco Prete.

Bertemes started his career as a teacher; after discovering engraving, which he studied for three months with Johnny Friedlaender, he opened his own engraving studio. While Bertemes worked in multiple art forms (including ink washes, collages, drawings, stained glass and more) it is engraving for which he is perhaps best known. His first solo exhibit was in 1959 in Luxembourg and today his work is in important collections such as the Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.); the Museum of Modern Art (Dublin), and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Paris). He won numerous prizes such as the Grand-Duc Adolphe (1960), the International Biennial of Graphic Art in both Buenos Aires (1969) and Lodz (1989), and was the first recipient of the Pierre Werner prize. Bertemes was described as "one of the best engravers and painters of our time" by critic Joseph Paul Schneider and "helped the engraving medium to become a recognised art form in Luxembourg".

This work one of sixty published by Andre Biren using previously-unpublished poems of Praillet's and four engravings by Bertemes. Of the sixty, the first ten featured a Bertemes special wash drawing, signed by him; this copy is one of those ten. Being such a limited edition copies are scarce in the marketplace; as of this writing, we see only one copy of the standard edition available online.

___DESCRIPTION: Loose folios in a stiff cardboard wrap, the title in black lettering on the spine of the wrap, the endpapers enclosed by the folded covers of the wrap, upon opening there is, first a wallet enclosing the special wash drawing signed by Bertemes and dated 1982, this followed by six bifoliums, the first being the half-title, copyright, and title pages, the second and third each with a tissue-guarded etching on the front the verso of which is blank and text on the third page the verso also blank, the fourth and fifth each with text on the front with the verso blank and a tissue-guarded etching on the third page with the verso blank, the sixth bifolium having text on the first, third, and fourth pages, the colophon being the recto of the rear free endpaper, this identifies this copy as number 5 of 60 copies with the first ten having the special wash, the text laid out and printed by Francis Van Maele, the engravings printed by Rene Taze and each signed below the plate in pencil by Bertenes, printed on Arches wove paper, [18] pp. which measure 10" by 8", the plate size of the etchings is approximately 6" by 4". Loosely laid in is the announcement of the opening of the exhibit for the engravings in the book; the exhibit opened on November 5, 1982 and ran through November 27, the exhibit held at the gallery of the publisher, Galerie Biren. The work enclosed in a slipcase of sturdy white cardboard covered in red cloth.

___CONDITION: Fine overall, all pages clean and without wear, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; a slight crease to the spine of the wrap the only condition issue we see. The exhibit announcement near fine, clean other than a small, light spot and without wear; the slipcase also fine, clean and without wear.

___CITATION: Please note that the information on Praillet is from the web site of the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles, and both the information and the quote above on Bertemes is from the web site of Lëtzebuerger Konschtlexikon, the article written by Malgorzata Nowara and published 2022-11-09.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.

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