305 - Alberto Giacometti (Swiss, 1901–1966)

Alberto Giacometti (Swiss, 1901–1966) Iliazd (Ilia Zdanevitch, known as) and Alberto Giacometti. The Twelve Portraits of the Famous “Orbandale,” “captured from life and etched by Alberto Giacometti ." Paris, Le Degré 41 [Iliazd], “the publisher who does not have his copper plates etched,” 1962. One oblong volume [185 x 355 mm] in loose sheets containing the complete set of 12 etched plates, variations on the portrait of the publisher Iliazd. Kornfeld 348–359. Very fine prints on double sheets, exceptionally signed in pencil. Vellum endpapers, some oxidized. One of 40 copies on “rustic China paper,” numbered 10/40, signed in pencil on the title page by Giacometti and on the colophon by Iliazd. Original parchment slipcase with a title printed in black. AABM stamp (Lugt 3075). Ilya Zdanevic, known as Iliazd (1894–1975), was a Russian-Georgian-French author, typographer, and publisher, considered one of the most innovative avant-garde typographers of the 20th century. He published the major artists of his time: Picasso, Ernst, Miró, Giacometti, Braque, Chagall, Matisse... This is the first edition of this work, derived from the book *Sentence sans paroles* published the previous year under the imprint “Le Degré 41” by Iliazd, for which he had commissioned Giacometti to create his portrait as the frontispiece. The artist created and engraved thirteen sketches, drawn from life, from which the frontispiece for *Sentence sans paroles* was selected. Iliazd then decided to compile and publish the remaining 12 engravings under the title *The Twelve Portraits of the Famous Orbandale*. In this copy, all the plates are exceptionally signed in pencil by the artist.