Couverture pour le Dîner des Cent Bibliophiles (original French title)
Color photolithograph printed on Rives
wove paper.
Reference: Armond Fields 407.
Much like his friend Henri Rivière, who
was his contemporary and for whom he designed both monograms and typographical
work, George Auriol admired Brittany and depicted the picturesque landscape of
“la Bretagne” in numerous works. In this well-balanced composition, made up of
just three colors, the Japanese aesthetic is obvious. Against flat colored areas
of even tone two women welcome a tall ship nearing the coast. This menu cover
was created for a group of one hundred book lovers who named themselves “Les
Cent Bibliophiles”. They seem to have existed from 1895 into at least the late
1920s and possibly beyond. They held social gatherings and on occasion
published prints and books. It seems to have been mostly a meeting for like-minded
collectors of illustrated fine art books. Signed with the monogram in the image.
Image:
8 ½ x 5 ½ inches.