BRETON André (1896-1966)

L.A.S. and L.S. "André Breton," Paris January-February 1947, to Hans BELLMER; 1 1/2 and 5 pages in-4 on letterhead Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme 1947, one envelope. January 12. Breton exposes to Bellmer the very detailed project of the Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme, at the Galerie Maeght. Each artist is asked to dedicate an "altar" to a mythical being or object. The letter is typewritten, but half of the last page is autographed: Breton talks about the American dealer Julius Carlebach, who is interested in Bellmer's work. 13 February. He has been unwell for several weeks and is overwhelmed by the preparations; he thanks Bellmer for his text, which he should have accompanied. Breton is overwhelmed by the preparations, especially since he has not stopped being ill. He thanks Bellmer for his text, but he should have accompanied it "with photographs or reproductions of drawings (unpublished, naturally). The copy is to be delivered to the printer on March 20. "I was so pleased that you chose to present for the exhibition the altar dedicated to Jeanne Sabrenas [the heroine of Alfred Jarry's La Dragonne]. It was absolutely necessary. [From the point of view of the occult correspondences that we were concerned with for the establishment of these altars, I will simply point out that this one is linked to the zodiacal sign of Cancer, to the moon and admits the carbuncle as a stone. We have decided to attribute to it the 4th hour according to the Nuctemeron of Apollonius of Thyana: The spirit wanders over the tombs. The magic lamps light up at the four corners, it is the hour of enchantments and wonders. For my part, I consider La Dragonne to be one of the two or three greatest books by Jarry, and nothing seems more important to me than your enterprise around its heroine. He asks Bellmer to ask Joe Bousquet for a text for the catalog. André Breton has attached a plan of the Exposition International du Surréalisme (1 page in-4).