Les Jeux de la Popee 1949 Hand-colored gelatin silver prints
Photographs：Hans Bellmer
Poetry: Paul Éluard
Influenced by dolls of the German Renaissance, Hans Bellmer realized his fascinations through life-sized mannequins with moving ball joints. His book Les Jeux de la Popee (The Games of the Doll) includes original gelatin silver prints, hand-colored by six different Surrealists. The poetry of Paul Éluard, first husband of Gala who is perhaps better known as the wife of Salvador Dali, accompany the photographs.
I have been fortunate to experience the original copy bearing Bellmer’s coloring instructions in Switzerland, and it is unique both in the size of the prints and its overall general impression. Even comparing two later copies of Les Jeux de la Popee reveals differences in trimming and coloring of the photographs, questioning whether or not he was experimenting.
Bellmer’s brother Fritz can be found in hiding behind a tree in one, and looming out bearing his face in the other. The coloring of the doll is also different, thus establishing each copy to be unique.
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Les chevaliers de la Table ronde 1937
Opera 1927年
Poésie critique II 1960
JEAN COCTEAU First edition books, signed on title page
When in search of Jean Cocteau's original books in France, one may come across a buried treasure on the title page. This particular copy of Les chevaliers de la Table ronde is signed for Marcel Achard, accompanied by a drawing reminiscent of a young Jean Marais.
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SERGE LIFAR Icare 1940's to 50's Watercolor, ink
Contrary to the conventional belief at the time, Russian-born French ballet dancer and choreographer Serge Lifar did not derive his choreography from music, but rather believed that the music should derive from the choreography. His most representative work Icare, depicted here, was the first work he experimented with this concept.
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KOMURA SETTAI Title Unknown Shōwa era (1926-1989) Japanese inkstick on paper
This unsigned, undated drawing by Japanese artist Komura Settai, was authenticated by his disciple Yamamoto Takeo as genuine. Famous for his visual contributions to books by the author Izumi Kyōka (1873-1939), Komura Settai was active across many fields as an illustrator, painter and designer. This image, created for a newspaper article depicts Japanese men and women in western attire, reflecting the Art Nouveau and Art Deco influenced culture in Japan at the time.
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ALEKSANDER RODCHENKO The Worker's Club 1925 Gelatin Silver Print / Vintage Print
This photograph by the Russian avant-garde artist Aleksandr Rodchenko, depicts the artist's own installation of the Workers' Club for the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. Lenin's name can be found depicted on the furthest wall. His dynamic constructivist style may have influenced the Japanese artist Komura Settai (1887-1940), known for his minimalist approach and dynamic composition.
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YATO TAMOTSU
Left： Seppuku 1960's Gelatin Silver Print / Vintage Print
Former actor Yato Tamotsu, took up the camera and left an impressive oeuvre of mostly male nudes. With three publications to his credit, Taido, Naked Festival, OTOKO , his gaze undoubtedly focuses on the male figure, and the infamous writer Mishima Yukio was not one to miss out. Yato captures Mishima demonstrating his passion and obsession towards the Seppuku, using tube chocolate as fake blood. The photograph shown above is a part in a series of 7, depicting 7 steps within the ritual. It is said that Mishima often proudly displayed these portraits to his circle of intellectuals and fans.
Right： 1970 Mr. Japan -Takemoto Nobuo 1971 Gelatin Silver Print / Vintage Print
Bodybuilders were one of Yato's primary subjects through the course of his career. Around 40 vintage prints of portraits of bodybuilding champions can be found today, though their whereabouts are often very hard to locate. This portrait of bodybuilding champion Takemoto Nobuo, taken outside the gym, vividly expresses Yato's keen obsession towards the male structure.
