Alphabet pour Adultes

Paris: Éditions Pierre Belfond, 1970. Folio. (14 3/4 x 10 7/8 inches). Number 46 of 150 signed copies printed on large vélin d'Arches from a total edition of 180 copies. Complete copy, all 38 original lithographs, including one used twice for the cover and title, with the signed rayograph with color silkscreen mounted on wood veneer mounted on card stock. Original wrappers, loose as issued; housed in publisher's original orange cloth box, author's name lettered on spine in black.

Man Ray's French edition of Alphabet for Adults, a captivating art-book featuring new illustrations and words, meticulously created for this signed limited-edition accompanied by a coveted original rayograph.

In the buildup to 1970, following the publication of his English-language Alphabet for Adults, Man Ray embarked on the creation of a French edition of this art-book. Rather than simply translating words or tweaking existing drawings, he set off on a fresh artistic endeavor, crafting an entirely new set of illustrations and words exclusively for this limited-edition, signed collection. Notably, the book features a prized frontispiece: a signed original rayograph. Within the book, some entries offer straightforward depictions, such as "elephant" aligned with an elephant illustration or "barbe" (beard) distinctly labeling an image of a beard. However, a multitude of other entries embrace abstraction, demanding interpretation. "Beaucoup" (very much; many) emerges amid a cloud of arrows directed toward the upper-right corner, while "jalousie" (jealousy) finds its reflection in an oceanic scene. This blending of different parts of speech-prepositions, pronouns, and adjectives confronts the simplicity of children's alphabet books, boldly announcing its "pour adultes" (for adults) classification. The carefully curated selection of words and accompanying images delves into themes more fitting for adult existence. Alongside mature vocabulary like "xérès" (sherry), "quarrelle" (row; dispute), and "fidèle" (faithful), there are overtly intimate associations. For instance, "souple" (supple) cunningly nestles between the tails of a whip. These words, crafted in the signature Surrealist style, may initially appear arbitrary or illogical, yet they find firm footing in the realm of desire, love, and human relationships. The rayograph, featuring vibrant stenciling adorning a feathered image, gracefully stands apart from the book, mounted on a lustrous wooden veneer. Rayographs, extraordinary camera-less photographs crafted by placing objects onto light-sensitive paper, attain their mesmerizing form through exposure to light. The delicate paper of the rayograph is predisposed to markings, and copies of Alphabet pour Adultes often bear visible scratches and scuffs. Moreover, the veneer mounting is susceptible to fissures along its contours. Nevertheless, the present copy radiates impeccable condition, bearing no traces of wear upon the rayograph or the alphabetical lithographs. It proudly preserves the rare essence of Man Ray's original creation.