French Friendship Album / Artist Book - Nancy, France
Nancy, France: 1897-1925. 21.3x14.4cm: 60 leaves, 22 used on verso only. Bound in leatherette with metal monogram (MB) to upper left corner of front cover. Lovely gilt dentelles with gilt and maroon patterned endpapers. All edges gilt. Text mostly in French with one page in Spanish. Binder’s stamp of the well known French bookbinder René Wiener on verso of front free endpaper. Spine cracked at a few gatherings. Light foxing to first and last few leaves, appearing on some of the artwork, but not detracting from their beautiful execution. Near Fine.
Believed to have been owned by Marguerite Brallet, the album begins with a heartfelt and romantic message to Marguerite, dated Nancy, November 13, 1897, comparing her to a flower, highlighting all her virtues, and ending with “I love you.” While the message is sweet, the various pieces of artwork are the stars of this album with images encompassing vignettes, portraits, cartoons, and landscapes, often accompanied with poems or messages. Many are accomplished in ink, both black and color, with a few in watercolor or pencil. Several contributions, likely from friends or relatives stationed abroad during World War I, stand out in particular: a drawing of Tangier, Morocco; expressive ink sketches of Arabic men smoking; and a striking, haunting watercolor depicting two soldiers locked in combat. There is also one piece with racist imagery, depicting a Black boy hiding behind sheets on a clothesline while a white girl runs away.
Overall, a wonderful album with some very accomplished artwork!
Price: $450.00
Item #10633