Jocelyne FRANCOIS. Wheel fire. Zao Wou-Ki. Montpellier, Fata - Lot 112

Jocelyne FRANCOIS. Wheel fire. Zao Wou-Ki. Montpellier, Fata Morgana, 1971. In-8 narrow, in sheets, filled cover. First edition. Limited edition of 250 numbered copies; one of the top 50 on arches (no. 1). Superb original signed color frontispiece lithograph by Zao Wou-Ki, reserved for the first copies. Publisher's copy, Claude Féraud, with an autograph signed by the author dated June 22, 1971. It is enriched with the book's original artwork and correspondence from the artist and author to the publisher: - 3 letters signed by Zao Wou-Ki, including two autographs. The artist announces the execution of the lithograph on February 1: "One with 3 colors for lux and one with black and white for the ordinary edition, the way I had executed could print on the machine, it will be much cheaper. I hope you've already contacted Jacques Desjobert and given your indication of the print runs. Even if you intended to print 50 proofs on a large margin as a signed print, I wouldn't mind (to reduce your expenses). On receipt of the work, the publisher was clearly concerned about the lack of margin. He even asked the artist for a second illustration. Zao Wou-Ki responded with a categorical refusal on March 9. The last letter, dated June 12, refers to an error in the artist's justification. (2 autograph letters signed and one typed letter signed, Paris, February 1 - June 12, 1971. 3 pages in-4). - 14 autograph letters signed by the author and her partner Marie-Claire Pichaud. Very interesting correspondence documenting the development of the book, imagined in December 1970 following a visit by Jocelyne François to the painter's studio through the intermediary of Vieira da Silva and Arpad Szenes. Various setbacks and prevarications, due in particular to the financial situation of the young publishing house, almost compromised the project. But the tenacity of the author, aware of the value of Zao Wou-Ki's contribution, overcame the difficulties and misunderstandings: "I'm not at all in favor of celebrity worship, as you can well imagine, and Zao Wou-Ki is so far above that [...]. We're going to have to adapt the paper to the painter and not the painter to the paper." (14 autograph letters signed, Paris, Saumanes, February 13, 1971 - ca. May 1972.) We enclose a second copy of the book, out of print. (Marie Minssieux-Chamonard, Catalogue raisonné des livres illustrés par Zao Wou-Ki in Zao Wou-Ki, estampes et livres illustrés, BnF, 2008, p. 139).