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Les fâcheux (Théatre Serge de Diaghilew) [2 v.]

Les fâcheux (Théatre Serge de Diaghilew) [2 v.]

Artist: Georges Braque (French, 1882 - 1963)
Artist: Jean Cocteau (French, 1889-1963)
Artist: Man Ray (American, 1890-1976)
Publisher: Quatre Chemins, Paris, 1924
Printer: prints: Daniel Jacomet et Cie., Paris; text: Frazier-Soye, Paris
Author: Jean Cocteau (French, 1889-1963)
Date: 1924
Dimensions:
Slipcase: H: 11 7/16 in. (290 mm); W: 9 3/16 in. (234 mm); Depth: 1 1/8 in. (29 mm).
Portfolio: H: 12 in. (304.8mm).
Book: H: 11 1/8 in. (283 mm); W: 9 in. (228 mm); Depth: 9/16 in. (14 mm).
Page (untrimmed): H: 11 1/16 in. (281 mm); W: 8 7/8 in. (226 mm).
Slipcase: H: 12 3/8 in. (314 mm); W: 9 5/8 in. (244 mm); Depth: 1 1/2 in. (38 mm).
Medium: Reproductions: 46 collotype reproductions of watercolor or gouache drawings, with added pochoir coloring , incl. front wrappers (Braque); collotypes of photographs (incl. one by Man Ray), plus 1 line block reproduction of an ink drawing (Cocteau), facsimile of sheet of music by Georges Auric. Text: letterpress on Arches cream wove paper (typeface: Didot). Paper: cream wove paper.
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Gift of Molly and Walter Bareiss
Object number: 1984.296A-B
Label Text:Georges Braque, Jean Cocteau, and Man Ray, Les fâcheux (The Bores). Texts by
Jean Cocteau and Louis Laloy (1924)

“Diaghilev possessed a genius for divining and encouraging talent, and, more clearly than any of his contemporaries, he saw how important it was to introduce the highest achievements of painting, music and poetry into ballet.” (Léonid Massine)

In 1922 the Russian ballet promoter Sergei Diaghilev commissioned a ballet based on Molière’s play, Les fâcheux, written in 1662. This is a comedy about a young man who is trying to meet a beautiful young woman, but is constantly interrupted by a steady stream of boring people.

The French composer Georges Auric composed the music for the ballet. Choreography was by Bronislava Nijinska, younger sister of the famous dancer Nijinsky. The Cubist painter Georges Braque designed the costumes, stage sets, and curtain. The ballet was first performed in Monte-Carlo on January 19, 1924 and then as part of the celebrations for the 1924 Paris Olympics.

This two-volume set features Braque’s hand-colored costume designs and a recollection of the ballet by Jean Cocteau. Also included are an essay by critic Louis Laloy, a portrait of Braque by Man Ray, and photographs of the dancers in their costumes.

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