Fables de Jean de la Fontaine, Tome Premier

Abstract

I am including a second copy of this fine work for these reasons: this first volume has a second volume to match; its cover and spine show far more color than does my first copy; and it itself has suffered some water damage. I will excerpt my remarks from there, except the last remark, which was that I lack the second volume. Now I have found it! Bodemann #491. This is an impressive piece of work. It comes about twenty-one years after Collot's fine Aesop of 1941. The special feature of this volume, I think, is the coloring of Collot's woodcuts. According to Bodemann, the printing was done under Collot's supervision at the atelier of Maurice Beaufumé. The cover shows lion, ass, and fox amidst some vegetation and before some buildings. A frontispiece presents La Fontaine. Bodemann remarks that the illustrations express a romantic, melancholy mood. They are certainly strong, as in the case of WL facing 24. Notice the vigor of the bull-fight near the frogs facing 46. MSA on 69 shows the concern felt by everyone in this scene. Le Lion Amoreux (93) is a sad picture. The reds and browns stand out as unexpected in these fine woodcuts. A special prize goes to L'Avare qui a Perdu son Trésor (120). This illustration does a great job with darkness and shadow! Sheer violence is at work in Le Cerf et la Vigne (140), as the dogs attack the stag silly enough to eat what had protected him. MM is set in a very deep landscape (186). She stands on a roadside, utterly alone. Bodemann counts forty-four illustrations in the two volumes. There are thus about twenty illustrations on the 202 pages here. Many are full-page, while others introduce a fable. There is an AI at the back. Printed on vélin chiffon du marais.