Hans BELLMER is looking for writers to accompany his drawings.

Hans Bellmer (1902.1975)

Autographed letter signed to Henri Parisot.

Two quarto pages on orange onion skin paper.

[Paris. July 1945]

" The quality of the drawings is uneven. 'Peppermint Tower' is the best. "

Hans Bellmer struggled to determine which of his drawings were most suitable for publication and asked Parisot to find writers who could contribute to his work. He ended his letter with a scathing attack on Pierre Seghers, whom he accused of using one of his drawings without permission.

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Dear friend, Having received Caillet's photos shortly after your letter, I am slightly modifying what I just told you:

Regarding the series of projected drawings (drawings on brown paper).

1) The quality of the drawings is uneven. "Peppermint Tower" is the best. Next is "The Little Girl Having an Inner Experience." Given the added difficulty of finding the originals—I'm not sure I could gather 10 drawings from this series—it might be better to choose 10 drawings from my output, regardless of the year, the technique used (drawing technique and reproduction technique), in short, regardless of graphic unity. At that point, there would be great freedom—and especially if I were to do this in notebooks , each drawing could be treated and reproduced individually, so the process could be adapted to that drawing alone, thus maintaining its variability. What do you think? In any case, nothing prevents you from being so kind as to ask Michaux, Bataille, Paulhan, Arp, Gracq, Gisèle Prassinos, and Frédérique. And Michel Fardoulis-Lagrange, too, you think!

Rereading your letter, I see that, in giving me the list of the surrealist collection at Fontaine, you say "that I would like to publish", so all this is not definitively settled!

a) I have approximately eight HC copies of my drawing available. I am selling them bound (in black sheepskin, gilt edges, thick cardstock pages on tabs – with pages from the manuscript and an original drawing) at 10,000 francs each. If you happen to see a wealthy and eager buyer, please give them my address.

b) That wretched Seghers! This morning I received that despicable "América" ​​magazine, largely devoted to advertising (especially perfumes, cognacs, fashion designers, etc.). He had the nerve to reproduce issue No. 1 of my album (the woman and the worm-eaten cathedral). The entire fashion magazine is so doctored and disgraceful that I'm furiously wondering what to do with this scruffy little merchant. The drawing is ruined forever. What should I do? I'm thinking of first forcing him to inform the readers of this magazine and the wider public of Éditions Seghers that this drawing was reproduced without the author's permission, as he doesn't wish to contribute to the magazines published by Éditions P. Seghers. Then I'll demand damages. What do you think? – The first thing seems essential to me! See you soon. Bellmer.

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