Liberté

Rare first edition of this poème-objet in concertina form folded back and forth, illustrated by Fernand Léger who married the text of the poem “Liberté” by his friend Paul Éluard with his striking pochoir technique. Original slipcase preserved, with author and artists painted in white on the side (two chipped edges on each top end of the plastic case).
Stencil print by Albert Jon after an original design by Fernand Léger produced at the request of the poet, resistant, and publisher Pierre Seghers. Edition of 212 numbered copies, this copy one of 200 copies on Auvergne paper. This copy has been skilfully restored.
One of the most famous and striking editions of the poem, which initially appeared clandestinely in 1942 in Poésie et Vérité. It was translated into ten languages, printed in leaflet form and air-dropped across France by the RAF to bring hope to a country and a people living under the oppression of Vichy and the German occupation. This illustration was made by the painter as a homage to a man who always used his poetry to fight for Liberty.
The most famous version of this hymn to the Resistance in its scarce original slipcase.