As my readers know, I am somewhat passionate about illustration. And many of my musings have featured French illustrated books. I think that French illustration belongs at the top of a pyramid similar to that of French cuisine. Very often exquisite! Beginning with this musing and for the following two musings, I move over to French illustrated magazines – the very first three issues of Verve, a magazine that was beyond glorious.
Verve was a modernist Parisian art magazine published by Teriade between 1937 and 1960. The magazine was first published in December 1937 with a cover featuring artwork by Henri Matisse. Matisse was a driving force behind the magazine. The headquarters of the magazine was in Paris. It published 38 issues in 10 volumes including lithographs by the most prominent artists of the Parisian art scene of the first half of the 20th century. The first four issues featured art/photographs by Miro, Brassai, Man Ray, Corot, Picasso, Maillol, Renoir, Delacroix, Chagall, Klee, Rembrandt, Toulouse-Lautrec, Rubens, Matisse, etc.; with literary contributions by Dos Passos, Lorca, Malraux, Joyce, Hemingway, Tagore, Rilke, and Sartre amongst others, Artworks have been reproduced luxuriously in the method best suited to each, resulting in a gorgeous, vivid publication, chockablock with delights.
VERVE; Volume 1 Numéro 1; Decembre 1937; Paris.
In this premier issue there are four lithographs, all on card stock.
Les Quatre Éléments:
L’Eau – par Fernand Léger
L’Air – par Joan Miro
Le Feu – par Rattner
La Terre – par Bores
The lithos are special and they drive the value of the magazines up considerably. They are most often removed from the magazines, which is why you often find issues of Verve at reasonable prices. The first copy of Verve that I bought in Chicago was of that ilk, but I understood the situation.
In addition to the cover art, Matisse had a number of works reproduced in this issue. Here are two examples:
Divagations
Nu
Here is a sculpture by Artistide Maillol, photo by Brassai. (I have a number of photography books on Paris, including one by Brassai – he was a wonderful eye.)
This issue featured some illuminations from 14th century manuscripts. The detail is incredible.
I trust that you have enjoyed this introduction/reintroduction to Verve. More coming up over the next two musings.
Happy Spring!