Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Abraham Rattner
Le Feu, Verve: Revue Artistique et Littéraire

1937

About the Item

Lithograph on vélin des Papeteries du Marais paper. Paper Size: 14 x 10.25 inches. Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued. Notes: From the album, Verve: Revue Artistique et Littéraire, Vol. I, N° 1, 1937. Published by Éditions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Tériade, éditeur, Paris; printed by Mourlot Frères, Paris, 1937 in an edition of MM. Additional notes: Excerpted from Poppy Sfakianaki, ‘La revue Verve (1937–60): Un tremplin pour la carrière de Tériade dans les éditions d’art’, Journal of European Periodical Studies, 4.2 (Winter 2019), 70–89, In 1937, Tériade (1897-1983) met David Smart (1892-1952), the American publisher of Esquire magazine, who offered him to the opportunity to collaborate on the creation of 'the most beautiful magazine in the world'. Smart recognized in Tériade not only his ability as a publisher and knowledge of art history, but also his professional network and the name he made for himself in the Parisian art world—all crucial advantages for an editorial business. Having had the commercial conviction that beauty "sells", Smart intended to address the American public, attracted to French art, including Modern art, and the myth of artistic life in Paris. For his part, Tériade saw the proposed collaboration as an opportunity for a foray into the American market—a powerful ally of modern art in France. Éditions de la Revue Verve was founded in November 1937, largely funded by Smart, and directed by Tériade. Verve: Revue Artistique et Littéraire was a luxurious and ambitious art publication, published not only in French, but also in English in its early years, and distributed in Europe and the United States. Its configuration was reminiscent of that of the French art journals Cahiers d'art, Minotaure, and Arts et métiers graphiques, as well as that of the American art magazine, Coronet. However, Verve was superior to the competition because of its copious iconography and high printing quality. Its price varied between 60 and 150 francs (for double numbers) before the war, and between 120 and 350 francs during the war. Given its high price, the magazine mainly targeted art dealers, collectors, bibliophiles and wealthy art lovers. The exquisite aesthetics of the magazine was due to its editor-in-chief, Tériade, who sought to develop a platform for dialogue between image and text, visual arts and literature. The dominant factor of each issue remains its iconography, composed of reproductions of works by modern artists that Tériade admired, and 'masters', mainly of the French tradition, alongside photos and miniatures of medieval manuscripts. Tériade undoubtedly realized with his magazine an idea expressed in 1934 according to which books served as an 'ideal museum' or an exhibition where all the artistic masterpieces are gathered, which Malraux developed later in Le Musée imaginaire (Geneva: Skira, 1947), parts of which will appeared in Verve. During Second World War the periodicity of the journal changed, then irregular, and the less varied nature of the subjects treated. Thus, the issues published during the War (as well as in 1945 and 1946) were devoted exclusively to the reproduction of medieval illuminations. Finally, the special issues of the post-war period each present the recent production of a modern art painter. Only numbers 8 (1940) and 27-28 (1952) were an exception with a more varied summary. Verve's reception was positive as evidenced by several laudatory press articles throughout its run. The success of the magazine, Tériade's passion for modern art and medieval manuscripts, his admiration for the publications of Ambroise Vollard and Albert Skira, and his knowledge of the world of bibliophiles, soon led him to amplify his editorial activity. In 1943, despite the practical difficulties imposed by the war, his first artist's book was published, written and illustrated by Georges Rouault. Until 1975, Tériade published Éditions de la Revue Verve, nine books by modern artists, such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, entirely composed (text and images) by the artists; seventeen books illustrated by recognized modern artists; an album of lithographs by Fernand Léger on Paris; two photographic albums by Henri Cartier-Bresson; two monographs on the artists André Beaudin and Francisco Borès; a luxurious series of reproductions of medieval illuminations; and, a series of portfolios on great French architecture. Ultimately, the comparative study of the journal and the editions of Verve: Revue Artistique et Littéraire illustrates the importance of the tacit relational dynamic that results from the relations of collaboration and exchange of symbolic capital based on common perceptions and interests, as well as on feelings of mutual friendship and appreciation of actors in the art world who share a visual and bibliophilic culture and thus contribute to the success of the journal and the publishing house. ABRAHAM RATTNER (1895-1978) was an American artist, best known for his richly colored paintings, often with religious subject matter. During World War I, he served in France with the U.S. Army as a camouflage artist. Rattner lived in Paris from 1920 until 1940, when he returned to New York City. He became known for his rich use of color and surrealist aspects of his work, which often pertained to religion. Although while living in Paris, he had met and studied the paintings of Claude Monet, his work is generally closer to that of Georges Rouault and Pablo Picasso. During World War II, he again volunteered for camouflage service, but was able to do very little (Culkin 1980). Later, he taught at several schools, including The New School, New York (1947–55), and Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (1952–53).
  • Creator:
    Abraham Rattner (1895-1978, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1937
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)Width: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Auburn Hills, MI
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1465216347512

More From This Seller

View All
Composition, Variations sur l'imaginaire, Fred Deux
By Fred Deux
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: hand signed and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Variations sur l'imaginaire, 1972. Published by Philipp...
Category

1970s Surrealist Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Composition, Variations sur l'imaginaire, Gilles Aillaud
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: hand signed and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Variations sur l'imaginaire, 1972. Published by Philipp...
Category

1970s Surrealist Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Composition, Variations sur l'imaginaire, Lucien Coutaud
By Lucien Coutaud
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: hand signed and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Variations sur l'imaginaire, 1972. Published by Philipp...
Category

1970s Surrealist Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Composition, Variations sur l'imaginaire, Jacques Hérold
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin de Rives paper. Inscription: hand signed and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Variations sur l'imaginaire, 1972. Published by Philipp...
Category

1970s Surrealist Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Composition (Cramer 97), Une Étoile de Craie, André Masson
By André Masson
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin d'Arches paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Une Étoile de Craie, seize lithographies originales par An...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Prints

Materials

Lithograph

You May Also Like

"Sometimes is forever" - 1976 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
"Sometimes is forever" - 1976 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper 1976 surrealist lithograph on paper titled "Sometimes is forever" by Jim Crabb (American, b. 1947). This piece resembles a surreal landscape, with various biomorphic objects floating in the sky. Some of them resemble coral, growing vertically. Others look like microscopic organisms, with stringy tails. Titled, numbered, signed, and dated along the bottom edge: Sometimes is forever 16/50 J CRABB...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Lithograph

"T.A.M.P. #3" - 1975 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
"T.A.M.P. #3" - 1975 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper 1975 surrealist lithograph on paper titled "T.A.M.P #3" by Jim Crabb (American, b. 1947). This piece resembles a surreal landscap...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Lithograph

"Sticky Sonnets I + II" - 1976 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
"Sticky Sonnets I + II" - 1976 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper 1976 surrealist lithograph on paper titled "Sticky Sonnets I + II" by Jim Crabb (American, b. 1947). This piece resembl...
Category

1970s Surrealist Abstract Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Lithograph

"Triangular Sunset Situation" - Surrealist Colored Lithograph #15/16 1978
Located in Soquel, CA
"Triangular Sunset Situation" - Surrealist Colored Etching #15/16, 1978 Surrealist landscape with creatures by James C. Crabb (American, b. 1947). There is a low horizon, with objects that resemble mushrooms, coral, and trees growing from the ground. In the sky, there are other objects and creatures, some of which are recognizable as biological. Titled, numbered, signed, and dated along the bottom edge: Triangular Sunset Situation 15/16 J Crabb...
Category

1970s Surrealist Landscape Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Lithograph

The Angel Drove Out The Fiery Flame Biblia Sacra Salvador Dali 1964
By Salvador Dalí­
Located in Paonia, CO
The Angel Drove Out The Fiery Flame is based on passages from the Book of Daniel and depicts the fiery furnace in tones of grey. When three men refuse to bow down to a statue of the ...
Category

1960s Surrealist Abstract Prints

Materials

Lithograph

American Yachting Scene Salvador Dali Currier & Ives series lithograph 1971
By Salvador Dalí­
Located in Paonia, CO
American Yachting Scene is a vibrant explosion of ocean blue , whitecaps and strong yellow slashes to describe the ships sailing to their destination. There is an insert of a Currier and Ives print of sailing ships that Dali used as his inspiration. This original lithograph is from the series “The World Of Currier...
Category

1970s Surrealist Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Recently Viewed

View All