DELUXE ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF MOLIÈRE’S LE SICILIEN, ONE OF 125 COPIES WITH THE DRÉSA ILLUSTRATIONS IN QUADRUPLE SUITE

(DRESA, Jacques, illustrator) MOLIERE. Le Sicilien. Compositions en Couleurs Gravées en Taille-Douce par Drésa. Paris: Société des Amis du Livre Moderne, 1914. Small quarto, contemporary half cloth portfolio, signatures loose as issued. $750.

Deluxe limited edition of Molière’s play, illustrated with six original etchings by Jacques Drésa, each in four states, two in color—one on Japon, one on handmade wove paper—one in black ink and another in sepia. Number 33 of only 125 copies reserved for members of the society, from a total edition of only 150.

“Molière may be said to have created modern French comedy by giving it a serious basis, where there had previously been little but farces and comedies of intrigue… His genius lay in his ability to combine profound observation of human nature in its complexity and in its foibles with the power of presenting these in their amusing aspect” (Harvey & Heseltine, 487). The illustrator of this deluxe limited edition, Jacques Drésa, was a key member of the Paris Art Moderne school, a late branch of the Art Deco style. Combining aquatint with the etching needle, Drésa here achieves the best qualities of both line and tone. Text in French.

Fine condition.