ELUARD, Paul. PICASSO, MIRO, BUCKLAND WRIGHT, TANGUY, MASSON, HUSBAND and HAYTER, engravings. ~ Solidarité. Poeme de Paul Eluard.
One of 15 hors commerce copies numbered in roman numerals and reserved for the author, artists and printers, this no. VII for John Buckland Wright, numbered in pink crayon (there were a futher 150 copies for sale). Two page printed poem signed by Paul Eluard. 3 etchings and 4 engravings signed and numbered by John Buckland Wright, Picasso, Miro, Yves Tanguy, Dalla Husband and Stanley William Hayter, all printed on Montval paper. 23 x 17.5 cms. Loose as issued in a portfolio of quarter black cloth over paper coloured boards, with the original black ties.
The 7 etchings and engravings printed at Atelier 17, where Buckland Wright was working at the time with Stanley Hayter. Buckland Wright who owned this particular copy, was involved in its production not only as one of the artists but also assisting with the printing of all the artworks. A highly important copy.
Eluard’s poem was first published in ‘L’Humanite’, the Communist Party newspaper, in 1936. It is a beautiful and moving denunciation of the Spanish Civil War and inspired Picasso’s series ‘Sueno y mentira de Franco’ which he produced in 1937. This portfolio was produced to raise funds for Spanish Medical Aid in France.
Picasso’s contribution to the portfolio is an etched portrait of Dora Maar - fittingly, Eluard had introduced her to Picasso in 1936.
Some copies are found with an English translation of Eluard’s poem by Brian Coffey but this is not present here.