Paul ELUARD - PICASSO and The Goat-Leaf by HUGNET

Paul ELUARD (1895.1952)

Autograph letter signed to Georges Hugnet.

Two pages in-12°. (Vézelay. January 19, 1942)

Canceled autograph envelope.

“Many thanks to Picasso for these beautiful illustrations. »

Charming letter from Paul Eluard rejoicing at the future publication of Hugnet's work, illustrated by Picasso, La Chèvre-Feuille .

« I am happy, very happy, my dear Georges, to know you are in better condition. But I still have the same sadness for Germaine, for the harmonious couple that you were, my friendship did not separate you, will not succeed, I fear, in separating you. Is it my fault if you were so well tuned? Finally, all my best wishes to you two and I dare say to the four of us, you two, Nusch and me. We were one. I grieve ! From the bottom of my heart, big thank you to Picasso for these beautiful illustrations , for the joy you have from them, that I will have from them. Naturally I subscribe to the separate printing, and, since it is a means of paying off our debt, keep two or even three copies for me. Of the book, in addition to the exceptional copy, for exceptional services ( old servant of friendship ), keep me a copy at 3000. Needless to say that I thank you for the effort you are making to give 5000 to my mother. She won't have enough to pay for the most urgent of my commitments. She also needs to repay Spirydakis. I asked Cécile to take care of it. Now, some big news: we are leaving, most likely permanently . It will be a while before I have a fixed address. Finally, to reassure you, tell yourself that I will definitely let you know in the last week of the month . An unusual copy of La Chèvre-Feuille!! I dream about it. Perhaps there will be the 6 engravings, color statements, an unpublished poem? You are an angel and it is quite useless, isn't it, my little George, to tell you that I will repay you for that, as long as I can. I have a gift project for you!! unique as we have ever done... Finally, tell Germaine that we love you both, with all our hearts. Lucien. »

La Chèvre-Feuille by Georges Hugnet was published by Editions Robert Godet in 1943, with six full-page illustrations by Pablo Picasso.

The letter is signed by Eluard with his resistance pseudonym, Lucien .