MALRAUX (André). - Lot 151

MALRAUX (André). Born in Paris (1901-1976). Writer and politician. Committed intellectual. Minister of Culture. Typed L. Signed "André Malraux" to "cher ami" [Moansieur Berl, rue de Montpensier Paris]. Paris, June 9, 1948. 1 p. in-8, addressed to him. BELLE LETTRE AU SUJET DU GRAND ÉDITEUR DART SUISSE ALBERT SKIRA: ...Nous pourront se voir un peu tranquillement après le discours de Verdun..., he announces, but it is above all about Skira that he wants to talk to her: ...je veux vous mettre au courant de l'entretien avec Skira. What he wants is not to make any real decision before the end of the month. My impression is that there is no political problem, but quite simply one of money. His "Matisse", which makes 30 million, won't be out before the end of the year; the first book he has to bring out is "The Psychology of Art". If he has enough money before the vacations, he will most likely put your "Fétiches" on his schedule for the fall. If he doesn't, he'll try to postpone his decision, as publishers traditionally do. The book interests him, he would like to be able to dispose of it eventually, and not have to commit funds before knowing what he can do with it... Malraux had begun publishing his essays on art with Skira the year before this letter (1947) under the title La Psychologie de lArt, an editorial project that continued until 1949. Born in Geneva, Albert Skira began publishing luxurious editions in the 1930s, illustrated by Picasso (Les Métamorphoses d'Ovide), Matisse (Les Poésies de Mallarmé) and Dali (illustrations for Les Chants de Maldoror). He was one of the most renowned art publishers of the 20th century, thanks in particular to the magazine Minotaure, which he managed in collaboration with Tériade (future publisher of Verve).