BRASSAI (Pseudonym of Gyula Halasz). - Lot 56

BRASSAI (Pseudonym of Gyula Halasz). Born in Brasov. 1899-1984. Photographer, painter, writer. Typed letter S. "Brassaï" to "Mes chers Amis", with autograph postscript, signed "Brassaï". Eze-Village, July 22, 1970. 1 page folio. Writing paper. Brassai and his wife write to their good friends about the fire that almost destroyed their property in the South of France: ...Wednesday, the 15th, just after lunch on the terrace of La Manderea, Gilberte said to me: "There must be a fire, I can smell it...". Little by little, a black cloud obscured the sun, and under this gloomy light, the Mistral was blowing with a rare violence of 110 kms per hour. The fire was advancing towards us with lightning speed... The couple quickly decided to flee, driving to La Turbie and then, that same evening, to a friend's house in Cap Martin. There, the village doctor tells them that their house is intact: "You can have a good night's sleep. You can have a good night's sleep. The fire has spared your house and even all your trees...". It was truly miraculous...Brassai continues his story: ...But all danger was not yet over. Hundreds of incandescent fires were still smoldering, waiting for a gust of wind to revive them. So on Thursday and Friday we returned to La Manderea just to "save" some other business. And indeed, on Saturday, the 17th, the house nearly burned down (sic) for good this time. (...) We went up on Sunday: the sight around the house is Dantesque: blackened rocks, charred trees and the black earth, as if sprinkled with snow, so thick is the layer of ash... In postscript: ...Dear Babeth, thank you for your lovely letter! and excuse us for this circular letter, but I don't have the time to describe it and I don't have my SECRETARY. Love to you all, Brassaï...