Library of book graphics invites you to the world of old French illustration

The Library of Book Graphics (7-ya Krasnoarmeyskaya, 30) has opened the exhibition “Bibliophile Things”, where Petersburgers will be able to get acquainted with the traditions of the French book by the artist of the 20th century. This is a pre-auction exposition of livre d’artiste (a book in which the artist works not only on illustrations, but also on all other elements of decor and book design) from the Northern Auction House.

According to the press service of the library, the exhibition hall presents collector’s editions of French livre d’artiste of the 1930s-1970s. “Bibliophile things” refers to the individual features of a book that make it valuable and attractive to collectors. Among the samples presented at the exhibition are additional suites of engravings, special copy numbers, author’s bindings, iconic works of this or that master – among them are such masters of the era as Pierre Bonnard, Raoul Dufy, Leonor Fini, Bernard Lorgue, Lucien Couteau. Printing techniques also differ – lithography, xylography, etching, and the style ranges from fine realistic painting to surrealism.

“Particularly interesting in the context of livre d’artiste, but outside this genre, will be the issues of the magazine Verve by the publisher E. Teriade with lithographic covers by Matisse, Bonnard and Chagall. This is a pre-auction exhibition of books from several private collections. Most of the books are shown in Russia for the first time. Some of the publications will participate in the auctions of the Northern Auction House in February and March,” said Kirill Perepechkin, curator of the exhibition.

The exhibition is open until March 1st.