Diurne, 1962, Picasso, Villers & Prévert

PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973), ANDRÉ VILLERS (1930-2016) and JACQUES PRÉVERT (1900-1977)

Diurnes. Berggruen-Paris: sn, 1962

In-folio, in sheets (400 x 300 mm), under illustrated folded cover. First edition. 30 reproductions of joint works by the two artists, “photo-cutouts” combining collages by Picasso and photographs by Villers. One of 900 copies on Arches paper (after the 100 de tête including the original engraving by Picasso), this one is no. 928. In the publisher’s cloth slipcase reproducing a drawing by Picasso. First edition of this work composed “by six hands”.

“Using a technique used since 1943, Picasso had made cutouts of heads and silhouettes. Villers mounted the cutouts on different photographs, 30 in all, thus varying their effect and value. Finally, Prévert, wandering his amazed gaze from image to image, made a delightful stroll-story. In keeping with the title Diurnes, evoking fugitive beings, living only one day, Prévert tells the story of these thirty ephemeral beings, from sunrise to nightfall" (Goeppert-Cramer).