José PIERRE organizes with André BRETON the surrealism exhibition.

José PIERRE (1927.1999)

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 Exhibition of Surrealism, EROS, organized by André Breton and Marcel Duchamp at the Daniel Cordier Gallery during the winter of 1959-60.

José Pierre, coordinator of the Exhibition, strives to make a relevant selection of works to be presented at Daniel Cordier. He thus evokes the works of Molinier, Miró, Ernst, Calder, Delvaux, Arp, Toyen, Chirico, etc.

The second letter, dated October 21, demonstrates to what extent the exhibition was organized at the last minute.

1° Biarritz – August 28, 1959

“Dear André, I have just received your last letter. Nothing special as far as I'm concerned that deserves to be mentioned, but the news - from the Roditi side - is very interesting in that it brings a new element, the "surprise" in a way. I am definitely optimistic about this exhibition, against Dubuffets and Bellemers. Very happy with the Fourier idea too! Here is the address of ARP: 21, rue des Châtaigniers, Meudon-Val-Fleury. It is, at the moment, the only one which has not been touched by letter, but I think that everything will be fine on that side. In exchange, I would be grateful if you could send me before your departure from St Cirq, the address of Simone Debout whom I would like to meet since I am going to the Grenoble region. My address in this area will be, from Sunday August 30, at Madame Cotte, Saint-Étienne de Crossey (Isère). No other answers to date, the holidays are definitely unalterable!

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

DELVAUX: erotic, yes, but still a “guest” painter too!

CALDER: By asking him, in advance, for a little erotic motive wouldn't that be bad?

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 cut-out postcard (in the tone of his work) for the Box – and perhaps as an invitation.

Sent an invitation to CUIXART, wrote to FALL about the 4 additional ectachromes, as well as to MOLINIER. I hope to be in Paris as soon as possible – maybe the 7th? In any case, I will call you as soon as I arrive. A little information (useful, if you didn't know it): Daniel Cordier belongs to the "Jean Moulin Club", a political organization like "left Gaullists", former Londoners, etc. It is always good to know. Long live Hanna Höch, then! and see you soon. Warm regards to both from: Nicole and José.

PS: I'm learning just now – from ELLE , a precious weekly! – the Max Ersnt exhibition, in November, at the Museum of Modern Art (retrospective it seems). Another thorn that we will have to guard against! In the same publication, from the next issue, the memoirs of Jacques Prévert! Could these be the first elements of a mass offensive? »

2° Paris – October 21 [1959].

“Dear André, I thought I would leave you in peace for a few days, but, upon reflection, a certain number of things seem worth pointing out to you.

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 numerous Molinier ! Worth seeing, it seems to me, to avoid certain analogies or, on the contrary, to draw ideas from them... A prospectus from the BIE (International Library of Erotology) indicates, among around twenty titles announced, a dictionary of sexology , in preparation for.

2° CORDIER: I brought 3 drawings by Lagarde, 2 drawings and 1 collage by Granell to the gallery - mainly to get rid of bulky objects -, with the aim of having them framed. But I think it would be enough to have only one or two framed per author, the rest being put in a drawing box. If you could go to the gallery to indicate what deserves framing (transport difficulties and lack of leisure prevented me from showing them to you), that would be very desirable. In my opinion, the “blackest” of the Lagardes and Granell's drawing entitled “the loving eye” seem the most original.

3° GUESTS and PARTICIPANTS. Seen Tuesday morning BAJ, passing through Paris, to whom I suggested to present 2 or 3 things to you. I liked a painting of a bouquet of flowers, quite beautiful but not very erotic. These “broken mirrors” that he is making at the moment may best lend themselves, I think, to what we want. Seen the painting by Max ERNST, The Fall of an Angel : beautiful painting, but a little large. Maybe we could put it in one of the two display cases? Unexpected in layout and workmanship, both chaste and sensual, deserves to be included in the exhibition – also because of its original and despite its almost monochromy. Requested by letter to J. Dupin a recent relief work by Miró to compensate for Copley's refusal of the “Box”. Explained to Dax what was expected of him, and the possible solutions to the lithography problem. Wrote to MELLE that we could not accept his “Calvin”, suggesting something more veiled… I took steps to clear customs for the 3 paintings by Granell, between which he asked us to choose. I will probably be able to get them early next week.

This, I believe, is the essence of recent things. Among our friends, the participation of ELLEOUËT, LOMBARD, Mr. Van HIRTUM, Van ECKE still remains uncertain. Monique WATTEAU has not yet sent the photograph of her painting. TOYEN should give us a drawing to frame. Could we, through Uhlmann, obtain reproductions of Giacometti's “invisible object”? By Bomsel, from Hantaï’s “Collective Narcissus”? No response yet from ML de Noailles about Chirico and Dominguez…

Regarding the “tale” that I made you read (SAD 00–01), no indulgence is requested. Fruit of my hospital daydreams (from July-August), the morbid side cannot be denied. If, extraordinarily, it seemed of some interest to you, the style can easily be improved (this is a second draft). See you soon, I hope. Regards to both of you. Jose »