Pierre Reverdy (1889-1960)
Henry Laurens le sculpteur silencieux. Undated, not located (1946)
Monogrammed and signed autograph manuscript (P.R., Pierre Reverdy) in 5 oblong in-quarto pages in black ink, in a blue folder on which is applied a label bearing the inscription 'Vente "Artaud" / 25. Pierre Reverdy / Manuscrit.'
Between 1929 and 1960, Pierre Reverdy wrote about his painter and sculptor friends, Gris, Picasso, Gargallo, Laurens, Braque, Leger and Matisse, regarding an exhibition, a book, or the passing of one of them. This text on Henri Laurens would be published first in Jul. 1946 in no. 33 of Le Point dedicated to Henri Laurens (pp. 14-18). The same article would reappear in Notes eternelles du present, ecrits sur l'art (1929-1960), Paris, Flammarion, 1973.
This manuscript was sold under no. 25 of the auction benefitting Antonin Artaud on June 13 1946 at the Pierre gallery for 4000 francs, Max Pellequer being the buyer
When Antonin Artaud left the Rodez psychiatric institute, gallerist Pierre Loeb organized this auction to help him get back on his feet. He assembled paintings, drawings, sculptures, drawings, and manuscripts from his artist (Arp, Bellmer, Chagall, Duchamp, Picabia, Picasso...) and writer (Char, Eluard, Mauriac, Reverdy, Ribemont-Dessaignes...) friends, the auction led by Jean-Louis Barrault.