ROUAULT (Georges) - SUARES (André). Passion. Original color - Lot 222

ROUAULT (Georges) - SUARES (André). Passion. Original color etchings and woodcuts by Georges Rouault. Paris, Ambroise Vollard, 1939. In-folio (455 x 345 mm), leaves, ill. cover. Limited edition of 245 copies on Montval. ONE OF THE FIRST 40 COPIES, SIGNED BY THE ARTIST, with a separate suite in black of the 17 original etchings, no. 34. Beautiful book, illustrated by Georges Rouault with 17 original etchings in color and 82 woodcuts by Georges Aubert. Attached is an important set of letters addressed by Rouault to his publisher Vollard, testifying to the state of exhaustion and irritability to which the cumbersome undertaking of Passion, le Cirque and Miserere is leading. - Prayer to Vollard: 3 p. in-8 in a stamped envelope, dated Oct. 33. - Residue: 7 p. in envelope addressed to M. Vollard EV. "I am troubled in my work believe me I am telling you in a friendly way that this is not the time to plunge back into the barbed wire of questions about even friendly talks on painting and engraving. Degas Cézanne Renoir - and so many others - could have made you understand that our holy profession is not made by language... We make a mute art, as old Poussin would say... I'm telling you here without bias, you're not grateful for the trouble we go to for you - I'm not asking for recognition, but peace in our work, that's the least I can ask for. Isabelle Rouault and François Chapon, 257-273.