Paris: Gallery du Tournesol, November 1966
25 x 36cm, 28pp on uncut cartridge paper - an artist's book with 10 original lithographs by Juan Romero and a poetic text. Loose signatures which were released uncut (probably awaiting private binding). Published by Boltanski as part of his activities as a gallerist during his first steps in the artworld. VG+. Extremely rare.
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Paris: Editions Jean Pierre Oswald, 1966
17.4 x 10.4cm, 160pp plus card covers. First edition of this novel with added poems for which Boltanski was commissioned to create two drawings on the front and back wrappers. The drawings are of an abstracted figure (an egg shape with legs) in a city of tower blocks on the front of the book and on the back, and the same figure in the countryside near a river seen from above.
This was Boltanski's first ever published work and is the first entry in Jennifer Flay's catalogue raisonnee.
VG+ although the covers are slightly browned. Rare. Ref Flay Catalogue Page 5.
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12 x 15.5cm, silver gelatine photographic print from 1966 displaying an early Boltanski painting of children in beds. Handwritten notes by an unknown person on reverse and the photographer's stamp - Marc Vaux of Paris. ...
Paris: Galerie Tournesol, 1966
18 x 21cm, 1pp hand typed letter from Boltanski on Galerie du Tournesol letterhead paper to M. Berg apologising that the gallery will be closed on 7th of April 1966 and that Boltanski will only return to Paris on the 13 April but he would be happy to meet Berg on any other date. He also mentions Berg's interest in the work of Romero. The letter is signed in black ink. VG+.
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Paris: Gallery du Tournesol November 1966
17 x 8cm, 6pp. Announcement card printed black on beige with a detailed reproduced drawing by Romero over the inner pages. The gallery logo of a sunflower is on the front of the card - and there is a possibility that that drawing was by Boltanski. VG+. Rare.
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Paris: Galerie Tournesol, 22 Fevrier 1966
21 x 13.5cm, 1pp hand typed letter from Boltanski on Galerie du Tournesol letterhead paper to M. Berg noting he had sent photographs of works by Romero and noting that he (Boltanski) would not be in Paris in March and hoping that was not when the collector was coming to the city.
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Paris: Galerie Tournesol, 14 Fevrier 1966
21 x 13.5cm, 1pp hand typed letter from Boltanski on Galerie du Tournesol letterhead paper to M. Berg thanking the collector for his cheque. Boltanski points out that A very large painting by Ramon was a great success at the last Salon de Jeune Peinture and was reproduced n several magazine. Finally Boltanski hope to see Berg again in Paris.
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Paris: Gallery du Tournesol, 1966
8 x 18cm, 12pp (but opens out to 16 x 54cm, printed recto only). Announcement leaflet for a very early Jean Le Gac show at Boltanski's gallery where he showed mostly paintings. VG+. Very scarce.
JOINT WITH:
15 x 21cm, 2pp hand written note and diagrams which appears to have notes about the installation of the show by Boltanski.
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Copenhague: Berg, 2 Fevrier 1966
21 x 15cm, 4pp but only one side with text. Original carbon copy of a typed and signed letter from M Berg noting that the painting had successfully arrived and including a cheque for 600 FR. Berg also asks for photographs of paintings by Romero in advance of visiting Paris in person.
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Paris: Galerie Tournesol, 1965
21 x 13.5cm, 2pp hand typed letter from Boltanski on Galerie du Tournesol letterhead paper to M. Berg explaining that the painting purchased by Berg has been sent to him and details on payment. Boltanski also says how much he is looking forward to meeting Berg in the new year.
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Copenhague: Berg, 9 Decembre 1965
30 x 21cm, 2pp. Original carbon copy of a typed and signed letter from M Berg indicating he was interested in acquiring one of the paintings by Ramon however the images sent by Boltanski do not show the colours. He also notes he is coming to Paris and will meet Boltanski and look at works in person including a painting by Romero.
This letter has some notes in red ink.
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Paris: Galerie Tournesol, 1965
21 x 13.5cm, 2pp hand typed letter from Boltanski on Galerie du Tournesol letterhead paper to M. Berg replying to the latter's letter of 19 Nov 1965, discussing a painting that Berg was interested in buying. Boltanski claims in "the Possible Life of Christian Boltanski" that his father told his mother they had better open a gallery together to allow their son to learn how to be an artist. The Gallery sold only Jiddish art but clearly Boltanski's interest in the avant garde made the chosen artists a little more radical. The motivation for starting the gallery is probably not true (like many of Boltanski's tales it is more than likely deliberately false) but he ran the venture from 1965 until 1968.
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