5 - Early Landscapes

Early Landscapes Paris, Henri Laurens. Les XX Society, [c. 1911–1912]. Small folio in loose-leaf format, in a slipcase and case. The spine of the slipcase is broken and has some missing sections. A few foxing spots. First edition of this charming coloring book designed by Maurice Denis for the educational series “Leçons de Choses du Petit Coloriste.” The landscapes are presented in color as examples, accompanied by their black-and-white line drawings intended for children to color. Each (or nearly each) is accompanied by a short text. [1] folio half-title and colophon, [1] title plate, 8 plates and 1 additional plate printed specifically for the 20th anniversary edition, all in various states (hand-colored using stencils, in black, on Arches and Japon paper, pre- and post-lettering, with text variations for most—details by plate available upon request.) Denis created the compositions during the summer of 1911, notably in Perros-Guirec, where he was staying at his villa Silencio; his models were none other than his own children. Bernadette is particularly recognizable in the first composition, drawing while surrounded by her brothers and sisters. One of twenty copies on paper from the Manufactures d’Arches and Japon Impérial reserved for the Société bibliophilique des XX. COPY PRESENTED BY THE SOCIÉTÉ DES XX TO MAURICE DENIS. -- 2,000 / 3,000 € Condition Report: 1st plate: “In winter, moms say you have to run…” 2nd plate: “Here’s a market…” 3rd plate: “In Brittany…” 4th plate: “A mountain landscape…” 5th plate: “Practice drawing…” 6th plate: “The Midi produces oranges…” 7th plate: “The sea and the boats…” 8th plate [no text; the three children seen from behind, gazing at the sea] Additional plate printed especially for the XX series: “The big oak tree…” Provenance: Maurice Denis Collection Private collection