Tag Archives: 1949

Poésie de mots inconnus is a book from 1949 made by Ilia Zdanevich (aka ILIAZD) after he moved to France from Georgia. It features Russian and Italian futurists, German dadaists, surrealists, and people from other avant-garde movements (Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Miró, Magnelli, etc). It was a reaction against lettrism, which ILIAZD saw as mediocre mimicry.

Poems by Akinsemoyin, Albert-Birot, Arp, Artaud, Audiberti, Ball, Beauduin, Bryen, Dermée, Hausmann, Huidobro, Iliazd, Jolas, Khlébnikov, Krutchonykh, Picasso, Poplavsky, Schwitters, Seuphor, Téréntiev, Tzara. 

Decorated by Arp, Braque, Bryen, Chagall, Dominguez, Férat, Giacometti, Gleizes, Hausmann, Laurens, Léger, Magnelli, Masson, Matisse, Metzinger, Miró, Picasso, Survage, Taeuber-Arp, Tytgat, Villon, Wols, Ribemont- Dessaignes.

source

Photos from MOMA and Christies (who sold the book for 60,000 euros in 2020). Previously covered here.

One of Pablo Picasso’s contributions to the book Poésie de mots inconnus (Poetry of Unknown Words), 1949. From The Ernest C. Steefel Collection of Graphic Art.

More texty Picasso posts here.

Updated 2024

Paroisse Ste-Marguerite, Magog, Quebec (Canada), built in 1949.
Photo by decopix