José PIERRE organized the surrealism exhibition with André BRETON.

José PIERRE (1927.1999)

A set of two autograph letters signed to André Breton.

Two pages in-4° (on exhibition letterhead) from Biarritz, August 28, 1959 (with envelope), and three pages in-8° from Paris, October 21, 1959, a few weeks before the start of the Exhibition.

Very interesting handwritten pages entirely relating to the organization of the International Surrealist Exhibition, EROS, organized by André Breton and Marcel Duchamp at the Daniel Cordier Gallery during the winter of 1959-60.

José Pierre, the exhibition coordinator, is working hard to make a relevant selection of works to be presented at Daniel Cordier's gallery. He mentions works by Molinier, Miró, Ernst, Calder, Delvaux, Arp, Toyen, Chirico, and others

The second letter, dated October 21, demonstrates how last-minute the exhibition was organized.

1° Biarritz – August 28, 1959

“Dear André, I just received your latest letter. Nothing particularly noteworthy on my end, but the news—from Roditi’s side—is very interesting in that it brings a new element, a sort of ‘surprise.’ I am decidedly optimistic about this exhibition, despite the opposition to Dubuffet and Bellemers. I’m also very pleased with the Fourier idea! Here is ARP’s address: 21, rue des Châtaigniers, Meudon-Val-Fleury. He is, at the moment, the only one who hasn’t received a letter, but I think everything will be fine on that front. In return, I would be grateful if you could send me, before you leave St. Cirq, Simone Debout’s address. I would very much like to meet her since I’m going to the Grenoble area. My address in that area will be, from Sunday, August 30th, at Madame Cotte’s, Saint-Étienne de Crossey (Isère).” No further replies so far, these holidays are definitely dragging on relentlessly!

I thought of a few names, variously qualified for this event:

DELVAUX: erotic, yes, but also a "guest" painter!

Wouldn't it be a good idea to ask him in advance for a small erotic mobile

MARIA: Given the shortage of sculptors, decorative but not so bad.

Maurice HENRY: only (if it seems useful to you) to ask him for a postcard-cutout (in the tone of his work) for the Box – and perhaps as an invitation.

I sent an invitation to Cuixart, wrote to Fall about the four additional ectachromes, and also to Molinier. I hope to be in Paris as soon as possible—perhaps the 7th? In any case, I'll call you as soon as I arrive. A little tidbit (useful, if you didn't know): Daniel Cordier belongs to the "Club Jean Moulin," a political organization of the "left-wing Gaullist" type, veterans of the London meeting, etc. It's always good to know. Long live Hanna Höch, then! And see you soon. Warmest regards to you both from Nicole and José.

PS: I just learned – from ELLE , that invaluable weekly! – about the Max Ernst exhibition in November at the Museum of Modern Art (a retrospective, it seems). Yet another thorn in our side! In the same publication, starting with the next issue, will be Jacques Prévert's memoirs Could this be the first signs of a mass offensive?

2° Paris – October 21 [1959].

“Dear André, I thought I would leave you in peace for a few days, but, on reflection, a number of things seem to me to deserve to be brought to your attention.

1° GLOSSARY: seen at Pauvert the third volume of the inexhaustible Lo Duca: History of Eroticism , rich in numerous documents, of very variable quality, – notably many Molinier ! Worth seeing, it seems to me, to avoid certain analogies or, on the contrary, to draw ideas from it… A prospectus of the BIE (International Library of Erotology) mentions, among some twenty titles announced, a dictionary of sexology , in preparation.

2. CORDIER: I brought three drawings by Lagarde, two drawings and one collage by Granell to the gallery—mainly to get rid of bulky items—with the intention of having them framed. But I think it would suffice to frame only one or two per artist, with the rest placed in a portfolio. If you could stop by the gallery and indicate which ones deserve framing (transportation difficulties and limited free time have prevented me from showing them to you), that would be very helpful. In my opinion, the darkest of the Lagarde drawings and Granell's drawing entitled "The Loving Eye" seem the most original.

3. GUESTS and PARTICIPANTS. I saw BAJ on Tuesday morning, who was passing through Paris. I suggested he show you two or three things. I liked a painting on a bouquet of flowers, quite beautiful but not very erotic. These "broken mirrors" he's currently working on might be the best fit, I think, for what we're looking for. I saw Max Ernst's painting, The Fall of an Angel : a beautiful painting, but a bit large. Perhaps it could be placed in one of the two display cases? Unexpected in its composition and execution, both chaste and sensual, it deserves to be included in the exhibition—also because of its novelty and despite its near-monochromy. I wrote to J. Dupin requesting a recent relief work by Miró to compensate for Copley's rejection of "The Box." I clarified in Dax what was expected of him and the possible solutions to the lithography problem. I wrote to MELLE that we couldn't accept her "Calvin," suggesting something more veiled… I've taken the necessary steps to clear the three Granell paintings from which he's asking us to choose. I should be able to get them early next week.

That, I believe, is the gist of recent events. Among our friends, the participation of Elleouët, Lombard, Mr. Van Hirtum, and Van Ecke remains uncertain. Monique Watteau has not yet sent the photograph of her painting. Toyen should be giving us a drawing to have framed. Could we obtain reproductions of Giacometti's "The Invisible Object" from Uhlmann? Or of Hantaï's "Collective Narcissus" from Bomsel? No response yet from Ms. de Noailles regarding Chirico and Dominguez…

Regarding the "tale" I had you read (SAD 00–01), no leniency is requested. Born from my hospital reveries (July-August), its morbid aspect cannot be denied. If, by some extraordinary chance, you find it of some interest, the style can easily be improved (it's a second draft). Until next time, I hope. Best regards to you both. José