294 - LAURENCIN, Marie [Paris, 1883 – id., 1956], French painter and printmaker.

LAURENCIN, Marie [Paris, 1883 – id., 1956], French painter and printmaker. Set of 4 autograph letters signed “Marie Laurencin” addressed to Germaine Beaumont. - “Friday, the 18th,” 2 pages, in-12° format. She is delighted to have received her friend’s new book, *Le ravissement dans lequel m’a plongée la harpe irlandaise* [a novel written by Germaine de Beaumont]. It was my friend Dr. Marthe Lamy who told me it had been published. I immediately got two copies—one for her, one for me—and that man whom we never see but who is in the entire book! He had a daughter; our Otto never had any children. ” She explains that she is organizing an exhibition: “Portraits of Friends—nothing but boys! Are you satisfied with this bookstore? You are the only one who could contact me if you’re planning to feature something in a magazine or newspaper. Thank you for your Irish Harp. That’s the only thing that matters to me.” - 2 pages, in-12° format. “Here, dear Germaine Beaumont, is the list of portraits. Marthe Lamy and I arranged over the phone last night to meet with you at the studio at 15 Rue Vanneau next Tuesday, October 5, around 4:30. If you can’t make it by 5:30, I won’t wait for you any longer. It’s 7 a.m.; it’s starting to get chilly—only from loneliness—a model session in the morning, and in the afternoon, visits from friends who are more or less distraught. I sketch them a little; if I talk too much, I get sick. ” - “Sunday Morning,” 3 pages, in-12° format. “What a lovely article! In *Bataille*, signed by Germaine Beaumont. I have a cold right now—I didn’t deserve it, but it’s the first one since winter. I miss Eddie—how hard it must be for her! But where should I write to him? They’ve been making a big fuss about their exhibition—I happened to hear it on the radio— one of M.L.’s poor little poems was attributed to Guillaume Apollinaire (“Gloire”), and another [...] painter had time to say that I was as nearsighted as a mole, and that he’d misled me about the color of his eyes. They really are charming. We’re painting ladies too, dear Germaine. Spring is here, and I’m starting to look forward to seeing you.” —“December 2 [1951],” 1½ pages, in-12°, with enclosed envelope. “Dear Germaine, not only am I painting *Silsauve* but also *Félice* [a reference to Germain de Beaumont’s novel *Silsauve*, published in 1951]. I finished the book last night. I would have liked a sequel—Félice is going to die, but what about the little girl? At one point, I thought I understood that Lucas Chambeaux would take care of her. The central character, Madame Loredan, is a strong figure. More and more, I am indebted to you, dear Germaine Beaumont.” Enclosed is a short handwritten note signed “I’m afraid of airplanes; the passengers fill me with admiration” and a photo of Janet Flanners, an American journalist and author who was a friend of Marie Laurencin.