In Living Memory (De mémoire d'homme)
Artist: Pablo Picasso (Spanish (active France), 1881-1973)
Publisher: Bordas Éditeur, Paris, 1950
Printer: text: Maïtre-Imprimeur G. Girard; lithographs: Mourlot Fréres
Author: Tristan Tzara (French (born Romania), 1896-1963)
Date: 1950
Dimensions:
Book: H: 13 1/8 in. (333 mm); W: 10 in. (254 mm); Depth: 7/8 in. (23 mm).
Page: H: 12 7/8 in. (327 mm); W: 9 3/4 in. (248 mm).
Medium: Original prints: 9 lithographs in black.
Text: letterpress.
Paper: Arches cream wove paper.
Classification: Books
Credit Line: Gift of Molly and Walter Bareiss in honor of Barbara K. Sutherland
Object number: 1984.900
Label Text:Tzara wrote this 4-part poem, which is both in verse and prose, between 1946 and 2949. The text is linked to the poet's experiences in the twenties, thirties, and forties. Prompted by his admiration for Picasso's latest paintings, Tzara wrote the artist asking him to illustrate this work, which Picasso did, although the images do not relate precisely to the poetry. The 9 lithographs were made quickly using a somewhat unusual procedure: Picasso fingerpainted flora and fauna designs with lithographic ink, and then marked their contours with lithographic chalk. Each image presents a detail of a rather fantastic garden, populated by flowering plants, butterflies, a praying mantis, and toads.
Not on view
In Collection(s)