French painter (1885-1941). Autograph letter signed. No place. 4to. 2 pp.
$ 9,468 / 8.500 €
(86163/BN57115)
To the German art critic and writer Carl Einstein, discussing "art simultané" and the aesthetic revolution of the 1910s, as well as the works of his wife Sonia. Delaunay writes that he received Einstein's letter; he replies in eight numbered points, mentioning drawings of Paris as well as the notes of the Spanish essayist and poet Guillermo de Torre on "simultanéisme", which he would like to revise, as he considers it absolutely necessary to resist the infamous reaction of those who started the revolution in the 1910s and have now returned to neo-Grecian, Rococo, neo-Baroque or even faux Chaldean styles, which reveal a spirit of decadence and decay in people's minds: "Il faut absolument combattre cette infâme réaction de ceux qui commencèrent la révolution de 1910-11-12-13-14 - qui reviennent au néo-grec - au rococo - au néo Barocco etc - ou au faux chaldéen [...] Il y a actuellement dans les esprits un esprit de décadence, de pourriture et de décomposition.
Il faut dans tous les pays des enquêtes. Une révision des choses? Bilan des générations". - He wonders whether they will find a prominent place to exhibit their proofs and photographic documents in support of their claims: "Dites moi [...] si nous pouvons disposer d'une place assez importante pour que nous ayons des preuves, des documents photographiques pour appuyer ces dires". - In conclusion Delaunay mentions the poem "La Mode qui vient" by Joseph Delteil, which the poet read during a charity event held at the Claridge Hotel on 24 March 1924 during the presentation of several models of Sonia Delaunay's clothes; enclosing a copy of the poem and several photos of the fashion show: "Un très joli poème de l'admirable Delteil avec des photos photos [!] des choses de Mme Sonia d'une scène de mode qui a été donné au Claridge au printemps". - 4 marginal tears near each corner repaired with adhesive tape..