HIER (SOUVENIRS). 1946. ONE OF ONLY 50 NUMBERED COPIES.

Paris: Editions de Pavois, 1946

19.4 x 14.5cm, 304pp. Original pictorial wrappers. First and only edition of this memoire by the Polish Cubist and poetess Halicka. Helicka’s life was lived at the heart of the Parisian avant garde – not only a fine artist in her own life, Halicka married fellow Cubist Louis Marcoussis who supplies portraits of the various artists mentioned in this book. Together they befriended many artists and writers who were instrumental in the early avant garde movements of Parisian cultural society including Appolinaire, Braque, Gris, Dufy and Andre Salmon amongst others. Appolinaire became close and subsequently reviewed Halicka’s work in Soirees de Paris. Soon thereafter Halicka exhibited at the Salon des Independants and began to work under the influence of Zborowski, who was a strong proponent of Cubism.

In 1919, because of her husband’s disapproval of her closeness to Zborowski, Halicka destroyed much of her cubist work and instead focused on collage and fabric design and by 1920 she exhibited at the Salon des Independants, Salon d’Automne, Salon des Tuileries and the Salon Surindependants. In 1925 Halicka illustrated Enfantines by Valery Larbaud and Les Enfants du Ghetto by Israel Zangwill. She also created set designs for several ballets while in the United States, one of which was performed at the Metropolitan Opera New York and thereafter Covent Garden, London. Halicka spent the duration of World War II in France and in 1946 she published this book of memoirs.

Only 50 copies were produced in total and this is copy number 49. There are various reproductions of portraits by Marcoussis hors texte throughout including Appolinaire. This copy is in near fine shape with some mild browning to the paper and a tear on the glassine paper over the front cover which does not detract at all. A significant find of significant research value to all students of the early French avant garde.