Almanach Illustré du Père Ubu [Bonnard Illustrations] [Limited Edition]
- Lausanne: Éditions du Grand-Chêne, 1949
Lausanne: Éditions du Grand-Chêne, 1949. Near Fine/Very Good.
THE GRAPHIC ENERGY OF THE PARISIAN AVANT-GARDE IN A PROTO-DADA MASTERPIECE OF THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD BEFORE ABSURDISM.
A striking mid-century revival of a foundational work of French modernism, faithfully reproducing the two-color aesthetic of the 1901 Ambroise Vollard original.
This collaboration between Alfred Jarry and Pierre Bonnard represents a pivotal moment in the development of the European avant-garde; Jarry's absurdist, proto-Dada text is paired with Bonnard's 'Nabi' period line drawings.
These illustrations, printed in red and blue, utilize flattened forms and simplified contours to reject academic naturalism in favor of a decorative, anti-naturalistic graphic style. Produced with the characteristic precision of Swiss printing, this edition preserves the grotesque satire of the Ubu mythos for a post-war audience.
KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with red and blue line drawings by Pierre Bonnard.
+++ Limitation: Copy one of 1000 numbered copies printed on 'papier vélin sans bois'.
+++ Binding: Original printed wrappers with titles in red and black; housed in the original issued glassine.
+++ Imprint: Lausanne, Éditions du Grand-Chêne; completed 31 January 1949 at Imprimerie Held S.A.
+++ Specs: Octavo (6.5 x 9 inches); 9-59, [2] pages.
CONDITION: Near Fine. The bindings are tight and square with only minimal evidence of shelf handling. Internally, the text is clean with light, even age-toning consistent with the paper stock. The original glassine wrapper is present and well-preserved, showing only expected toning and light wear at the top edge. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -
Alfred Jarry was the iconoclastic creator of 'Ubu Roi', a play that famously incited a riot at its 1896 premiere and effectively birthed the Theatre of the Absurd. The 'Almanach' allowed Jarry to expand the grotesque character of Père Ubu into a satirical commentary on the 20th century. Pierre Bonnard, a central figure of 'Les Nabis', provided the perfect visual counterpoint; his simplified, symbolist graphic style mirrors the raw, primitive energy of Jarry's writing.
While the 1901 Vollard edition is a six-figure rarity, this 1949 Lausanne printing is highly regarded by collectors for its typographic clarity and its role in re-introducing Jarry's 'Pataphysics' to the Dada and Surrealist movements that claimed him as their spiritual ancestor.
SUBJECTS: Alfred Jarry, Pierre Bonnard, Les Nabis, Avant-Garde Theatre, Pataphysics, French Modernism, Limited Editions, Illustrated Books, Livre d'Artiste, Swiss Imprints.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Monod 6348 (for 1901 ed); see also The Artist and the Book 1860-1960.
THE GRAPHIC ENERGY OF THE PARISIAN AVANT-GARDE IN A PROTO-DADA MASTERPIECE OF THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD BEFORE ABSURDISM.
A striking mid-century revival of a foundational work of French modernism, faithfully reproducing the two-color aesthetic of the 1901 Ambroise Vollard original.
This collaboration between Alfred Jarry and Pierre Bonnard represents a pivotal moment in the development of the European avant-garde; Jarry's absurdist, proto-Dada text is paired with Bonnard's 'Nabi' period line drawings.
These illustrations, printed in red and blue, utilize flattened forms and simplified contours to reject academic naturalism in favor of a decorative, anti-naturalistic graphic style. Produced with the characteristic precision of Swiss printing, this edition preserves the grotesque satire of the Ubu mythos for a post-war audience.
KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with red and blue line drawings by Pierre Bonnard.
+++ Limitation: Copy one of 1000 numbered copies printed on 'papier vélin sans bois'.
+++ Binding: Original printed wrappers with titles in red and black; housed in the original issued glassine.
+++ Imprint: Lausanne, Éditions du Grand-Chêne; completed 31 January 1949 at Imprimerie Held S.A.
+++ Specs: Octavo (6.5 x 9 inches); 9-59, [2] pages.
CONDITION: Near Fine. The bindings are tight and square with only minimal evidence of shelf handling. Internally, the text is clean with light, even age-toning consistent with the paper stock. The original glassine wrapper is present and well-preserved, showing only expected toning and light wear at the top edge. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -
Alfred Jarry was the iconoclastic creator of 'Ubu Roi', a play that famously incited a riot at its 1896 premiere and effectively birthed the Theatre of the Absurd. The 'Almanach' allowed Jarry to expand the grotesque character of Père Ubu into a satirical commentary on the 20th century. Pierre Bonnard, a central figure of 'Les Nabis', provided the perfect visual counterpoint; his simplified, symbolist graphic style mirrors the raw, primitive energy of Jarry's writing.
While the 1901 Vollard edition is a six-figure rarity, this 1949 Lausanne printing is highly regarded by collectors for its typographic clarity and its role in re-introducing Jarry's 'Pataphysics' to the Dada and Surrealist movements that claimed him as their spiritual ancestor.
SUBJECTS: Alfred Jarry, Pierre Bonnard, Les Nabis, Avant-Garde Theatre, Pataphysics, French Modernism, Limited Editions, Illustrated Books, Livre d'Artiste, Swiss Imprints.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Monod 6348 (for 1901 ed); see also The Artist and the Book 1860-1960.
Details
Title
Almanach Illustré du Père Ubu [Bonnard Illustrations] [Limited Edition]
Author
Jarry, Alfred (1873-1907)
Condition
Very Good
Publisher
Éditions du Grand-Chêne: Lausanne
Date
1949