Repli

1947. MATISSE, Henri. Repli. By André Rouveyre. 163, [6] pp., illustrated with 12 lithographs and 6 linocuts. 4to, bound loose as issued in the original bright yellow wrappers, chemise and slipcase. Uncut and unopened. Paris: Éditions du Belier, 1947.

A pristine copy of this scarce book which shows off Matisse's skill as a portraitist and also his sense of whimsy. Rouveyre's poem "depicts the termination of a certain exhausted love" (Rouveyre, quoted in Duthuit). Matisse designed six portraits of a woman's head, representing the object of the poet's affections, to accompany the first part of Rouveyre's text; six variations of Rouveyre's portrait appear in the second part. One of 315 copies on Velin signed by Matisse and Rouveyre, of a total edition of 370. Duthuit 20.