Paris, Meynial, 1922
One of the most important works by Barbier, rivalled only by his Le bonheur du jour. Albert Flament's text of 1914 is a diffuse meditation, half-waking and half-dreaming, which takes as its point of departure the great roles of world theatre. Barbier's vignettes have a general relevance to the theme of acting, but most of his plates, at least one of which dates from 1916, are simply magnificent decorative compositions.
George Barbier (1882-1932), was the supreme decorative designer of art deco, whose art centred on the human figure, displayed in a thousand different settings and costumes. He had the faculty, as Valéry wrote, of embodying myth through images in such a way that workers in mere words could only look on in awe.
Limited edition, one of 150 copies on Vélin de cuve de Hollande (this numbered 24), signed by Barbier; 4to (37 x 29 cm); manuscript dedication poem by Albert Flament, 12 full-page and 2 half-page colour woodcut engravings by Schmied after Barbier, text by Albert Flament with decorative devices, borders, initials and tail-pieces, gilt detail; illustrated wrapper with marble background, modern dark morocco blue with large gilt pictorial block to upper cover.
Ritchie 11; Carteret IV: 157. Paris: Meynia.
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