THE CUBIST SPIRIT IN ITS TIME. 1947.

London: London Gallery Editions, 1947

21 x 18cm, 40pp. Original red and blue wrappers. The exhibition catalogue for this important exhibition of cubist works as shown at the London Gallery organised by ELT Mesens and filled with works by Penrose, Lee Miller, Gistac Kahnweiler and others. Foreword by Robert Melville and contributions translated by Mesens from Apollinaire, Breton and lengthy notes also by Mesens. B/w illustrations throughout and twenty-six black and white plates after works by Picasso, Braque, Leger, Gris, De La Fresnaye, Picabia, Marcoussis and Masson. Placing cubism at the centre of avant garde development the catalogue also critiques the movement from a later surrealist position – Braque being oh so slightly dismissed (especially by Breton) and Picasso regarded as part of the inner circle (which given his adherence to surrealism and communism post-cubism is not so surprising). A couple of faint coffee cup stains on the front covers, which do not detract that greatly, else VG. Scarce.