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The following group of works by Alberto Giacometti are from the collection of André du Bouchet (1924-2001), one of France's pre-eminent post-war poets. After studying at Harvard, du Bouchet returned to France and joined the circle of post-surrealist poets who founded the review L'Ephémère. His own idiosynchratic style of visual poetry, known as Poésie Blanche and characterised by individual lines isolated on a blank page, closely recalls Giacometti's fragile graphic expression. Du Bouchet produced several works dedicated to the artist, including his book Qui n'est pas tourné vers nous in 1972 and the monograph Alberto Giacometti: Dessins 1945-1965 published by Maeght in 1969. The artist in turn etched a series of four portraits of du Bouchet (see lot 127) as well as providing illustrations for du Bouchet's Le Moteur Blanc, 1956 and Dans la Chaleur vacante, 1960.

Alberto Giacometti

Portrait of André du Bouchet IV (Lust 395)

Details

Alberto Giacometti
Portrait of André du Bouchet IV (Lust 395)
etching, circa 1965, on wove, signed in pencil, numbered 3/10 (there were also a few trial proofs), with margins, laid on a support, otherwise in good condition, framed
P. 163 x 120 mm., S. 200 x 139 mm.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Portrait d'André du Bouchet IV is one of a series of portraits of the poet by Giacometti. The first version was included in L'Inhabité, by du Bouchet, published by Jean Hugues, Paris, 1967.

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