Laurencin, Marie (1883-1956)
Two Autograph Letters Signed Regarding Les Biches.
Paris: October 1 and 21, 1952.

Two letters on folded laid note paper to an unnamed recipient (Cher Monsieur), sent from the artist's 7 Rue Masseran, Paris apartment, each written over two pages; mentioning the French composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963), and the 1924 ballet, Les Biches, for which Laurencin designed the costume and set decor when it was originally staged; both written just after the New York revival staged by George de Cuevas (1885-1961), and mentioning introducing the recipient to Cuevas as well; each in dark brown ink, in a clear hand, nicely preserved, 8 1/4 x 5 1/4 in. each (2)

Laurencin was an avant-garde Cubist painter and printmaker active in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. She exhibited her work at the Salon des Independants, the Salon d'Autonmne, and at Galeries Dalmau. Her own sexual fluidity meshed well with the tenor of Poulenc's Les Biches, a one-act ballet which featured a series of random romantic interactions, with no storyline and no named characters. According to the composer, "The action passes in a large, white drawing room with just one piece of furniture, an immense blue sofa. It is a warm afternoon and three young men are enjoying the company of sixteen lovely women. Just as in 18th century prints, their play is innocent in appearance only."

Condition
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