Chassy (Saône-Et-Loire)

Autograph letter signed by Balthus addressed to gallery owner Henriette Gomès. 7 lines, envelope included.
Cross folds inherent to mailing, a small tear to left margin of the letter not touching text, the ink having faded.
"Chassy, mardi (the r and d having smudged)
Ma petite Henriette,
je reçois ce papier mystérieux - si tu trouves un moment pourrais-tu voir de quoi il s'agit ? En toute hâte - Je t'embrasse et André. B." ["My little Henriette, I receive this mysterious paper - if you find a moment could you see what it's about? In great haste - I embrace you and André. B."]
"During the summer of 1952, Balthus found a château in the Nièvre, between Autun and Avallon which he decided to rent and where he settled in the spring of the following year. The means were provided by his dealers, Henriette Gomès, Pierre Matisse and with them a collective of collectors, including Maurice Rheims, Alix de Rotschild and Claude Hersent. They paid him a pension in exchange for his latest paintings which they divided among themselves. The château was severely deteriorated and Balthus lived there modestly in continual restoration work. He had for company, to help him settle in and ensure a presence when he went to Paris, the poet Léna Leclercq, met through Giacometti. The latter remained until spring 1955. Meanwhile, Balthus had begun a love affair with his niece by marriage, Frédérique Tison, daughter from a previous union of his brother Pierre's wife." (Fondation Balthus)

Signed autograph postcard from Balthus addressed to gallerist Henriette (Gomès), 17 lines in black ink.
A clear dampstain in the upper right margin of the postcard depicting a ski slope.
"Chassy le 30 XII 53
Ma petite Henriette,
comme il n'est pas impossible que mon petit mot de Rome ait été englouti par la pgrève, je préfère pour plus de sûreté t'envoyer une nouvelle litanie de souhaits et de bons voeux d'ici où je suis rentré hier - Quand viens-tu ? J'espère que tu t'arrangeras popur rester quelques jours. Je t'embrasse ainsi qu'André. B. L'adresse de Georges Parent G. Parent, 1, rue de Narbonne Paris 7e."" ["Chassy December 30th 53 / My dear little Henriette, / as it's not impossible that my little note from Rome was swallowed up by the strike, I prefer for greater safety to send you a new litany of wishes and good wishes from here where I returned yesterday - When are you coming? I hope you'll arrange to stay a few days. I embrace you as well as André. B. Georges Parent's address G. Parent, 1, rue de Narbonne Paris 7th."]
"During the summer of 1952, Balthus found a château in the Nièvre, between Autun and Avallon which he decided to rent and where he settled in the spring of the following year. The means were provided by his dealers, Henriette Gomès, Pierre Matisse and with them a group of collectors, including Maurice Rheims, Alix de Rothschild and Claude Hersent. They paid him a pension in exchange for his latest paintings which they divided among themselves. The château was severely deteriorated and Balthus lived there modestly in continual restoration work. He had for company, to help him settle in and ensure a presence when he went to Paris, the poet Léna Leclercq, met through Giacometti. She remained until spring 1955. Meanwhile, Balthus had begun a love affair with his niece by marriage, Frédérique Tison, daughter of a previous union of his brother Pierre's wife." (Fondation Balthus)