Pablo Picasso - Marcel Duchamp - Non vouloir - Au dépens des mots

Rare complete set of four pamphlets with poems by Georges Hugnet in first edition published during the Occupation, illustrated by Picasso, Joan Miro, and Valentine Hugo. The first titled "Non-vouloir" was limited to only 26 copies; our copy is one of the 20 copies on vergé antique de Montval, following 6 copies on japon. The three others on ordinary paper from a limited edition of 200 copies.

"Non-vouloir"  was the first resistance poem published openly and signed by its author without being subjected to censorship. Composed between March and June 1940, Hugnet's poem stands as a poetic manifesto of refusal against defeat and occupation, echoing General De Gaulle's famous radio speach of June 18. Hugnet became an early member of the resistance  and joined the group "La Main à plume" which printed numerous clandestine tracts. He used his bookbinding workshop to forge false documents and, under the pseudonym "Malo le Bleu", contributed notably to "L'honneur des poètes", a collection of resistance poetry published clandestinely in 1943 by the famous Editions de Minuit.

Non vouloir, 1940.

Printed in red ink. Illustrated with an original frontispiece by Joan Miro. The leaf has been trimmed to form an eight-page  pamphlet, a barely perceptible shadow left by a paper clip.

Pablo Picasso, 1941.

Illustrated with 6 original zincographs by Pablo Picasso framing a poem by Georges Hugnet from January 1940. Fine copy without crease marks.

Marcel Duchamp, 1941.

Printed in blue ink. Rare copy before the printing of the stencil by Marcel Duchamp mounted as frontispiece representing the mythical moustache he put on the Mona Lisa in 1919. Crease marks, leaf cut along the fold at the top of the title page, without loss of paper or text.

 Au dépens des mots, 1941.

Printed in gold ink, illustrated with an original frontispiece by Valentine Hugo. A few very slight traces of sunning. Fine copy without crease marks.