31 - René CHAR. *Les Compagnons dans le jardin*. Paris: Louis Broder (Miroir du poète, II), 1957.

René CHAR. *Les Compagnons dans le jardin*. Paris: Louis Broder (Miroir du poète, II), 1957. Square 12mo; two-tone black and green morocco leather, untrimmed, gilt head, cover and spine intact, green cloth slipcase with title label in green morocco leather (Blaizot). Partially original edition. Printed in a run of 130 copies on Rives vellum paper, signed by the author and the artist. Author’s copy, marked “D.” Four original color etchings by Zao Wou-Ki. This is the third book illustrated by Zao Wou-Ki, who was commissioned by publisher Louis Broder to replace Jacques Villon, whom René Char had initially considered. “Broder thus chose an artist who was part of the revival of abstract painting at the time. Zao Wou-Ki was aware of how fortunate he was to join the pantheon of artists who had illustrated a text by René Char” (Yann Hendgen). The book marked the beginning of a long friendship between the poet and the painter. Autograph inscribed in red pencil: For René Ménard / from always to always / R.C. With that same red pencil, René Char copied verses from the collection four times onto blank pages. At the top of the page, on a tab, is the signed autograph manuscript of an excerpt from *Dans l’espace*: “The Sun flew low, as low as a bird. The night extinguished them both. I loved them. R.C.” (1 page, in-12 format). A familiar figure in the Vaucluse region, the poet René Ménard (1908–1980) was also associated with Albert Camus. A curious period binding signed by Blaizot. (Agerup, Catalogue Raisonné, nos. 106–109.—Peyré, Peinture et poésie. Le dialogue par le livre, 1874–2000, p. 80.- Yann Hendgen, *Zao Wou-Ki and the Poets*, 2015, p. 91: “This third illustrated book was the first produced at the request of a publisher, even though neither the author nor the artist knew each other personally. […] *Les Compagnons dans le jardin* marked the beginning of a friendship with René Char, punctuated by numerous exchanges.”)