SALMON (André) - UTRILLO (Maurice) - Lot 106

SALMON (André) - UTRILLO (Maurice) Gouaches d'Utrillo. Text by André Salmon. Paris : Éditions des quatre chemins, 1925. - Album in-folio, 430 x 360 : (4 ff.), 8 plates. Sheets in grey cloth-covered publisher's cardboard folder with flaps, title label on front cover, ties. The very rare first edition of this exceptional album, featuring 8 reproductions of gouaches and pastels by Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955), produced between 1922 and 1923. These years mark the very beginning of the artist's color period, as well as the beginning of his public recognition. The works reproduced are : Le Moulin de la galette sous la neige. Gouache, 1922. - Land for sale. Gouache 1923. - Place Jean-Baptiste-Clément. Gouache. - Écouen. Gouache. - A Robinson. Gouache pastel. - The Blue House. Watercolor with gouache. - The Little Castle. Gouache. - Maisonnettes à Montmartre. Each reproduction, presented in a passe-partout folder, has been enhanced in color, offering remarkable fidelity to the originals. The album opens with a text by art critic and writer André Salmon, a friend of Utrillo's, who pays tribute to him in these terms: "Prey to the disorder of genius, here you are master of an art that makes you the equal of the most perfect talents. " Edition strictly limited to 200 copies, of which 175 are numbered from 26 to 200 (this one no. 146). Pitting on the label of the first cover of the folder. Black stains on the second cover. Paper tears at flap folds. Some marginal foxing on text leaves.