FINI (Leonor). Born in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 1908–1996. - Lot 167

Lot n° 167
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FINI (Leonor). Born in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 1908–1996. - Lot 167
FINI (Leonor). Born in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 1908–1996. French surrealist painter, lithographer, theater set designer, and writer of Italian origin. A REMARKABLE AND VERY LONG AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED “Leonor” to “Dear Pierre” [Pierre Besse]. No place, no date [Nonza, Corsica, circa 1960]. 13 folio pages. A violent altercation with Stanislao Lepri. Intimate confidences and fascinating reflections on artistic creation, Jacques Audiberti, the solitude of writers, and human relationships. An extraordinary, intimate letter in which Leonor Fini opens up with striking candor, interweaving the account of a violent argument with her partner, the painter Stanislao Lepri, with lengthy reflections on art, literature, and human relationships. She begins by recounting an altercation that occurred during a dinner at their home in Corsica. A discussion about the food escalates into a violent outburst of anger. After several disparaging remarks, Leonor Fini throws leftovers from the meal at Stanislao Lepri, who reacts brutally: “That’s when he really became ‘mad with rage’; he gave me a very violent slap on the head [...] so hard that [...] I fell backward onto the floor, hitting my back against the back of the chair. ” She describes the reactions of Konstanty Jeleński, known as Kot, and Enrico, who intervened to help her, as well as the aftermath of this altercation, recounted with a mixture of anger, irony, and biting humor. The letter then takes on a particularly interesting dimension from a literary and artistic perspective. Referring to a cat nicknamed “the Goethe of cats,” Leonor Fini offers extensive reflections on creative genius, the relationship between the artist and their audience, and the solitude necessary for certain forms of creation. She focuses in particular on Jacques Audiberti, discussing his personality and artistic views. She rejects the idea that a great artist necessarily needs the public’s approval to create their work, citing several major figures in literature, including Jean Genet, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Nerval, Leopardi, and Villon. “But since every work arises from a protest, a sense of not fitting in, a rebellion—love goes into the work—into one’s own work, into a desire for perfection... ” She continues this line of thought by defending the artist’s freedom and a deeply personal conception of creation, in which rebellion, suffering, isolation, and the pursuit of perfection can play an essential role. The final pages explore these ideas with great intensity. In them, Leonor Fini discusses her disagreements with her correspondent regarding the personalities in her circle, particularly Audiberti, and analyzes with remarkable insight the characters, sensibilities, and dynamics of influence among individuals. She emphasizes the need to distinguish between temperaments and not to judge people based on overly generalizations. She also returns to the subjects of Stanislao Lepri and Konstanty Jeleński, discussing their sensibilities, their differences in character, and the tensions that can arise in their relationships. She passionately defends her way of understanding people and their contradictions, while expressing her deep affection for her correspondent. This exceptional correspondence offers a particularly revealing insight into Leonor Fini’s personality, her independent spirit, and her aesthetic convictions. It also offers valuable insight into the daily life and complex relationships within the artistic and literary circle that surrounded her, notably Stanislao Lepri, Konstanty Jeleński, and Jacques Audiberti. This is a highly significant letter due to its length, its deeply personal nature, and the richness of its reflections on artistic creation and the psychology of artists. Leonor Fini regularly stayed at a former monastery in Nonza, Corsica, in the company of Stanislao Lepri and Konstanty Jeleński, two key figures in her emotional and artistic circle.
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