MARCEL DUCHAMP AND ANDRÉ BRETON

Property from the Collection of Carlos Alberto Cruz

MARCEL DUCHAMP AND ANDRÉ BRETON

BOÎTE ALERTE. MISSIVES LACIVES. EXPOSITION INTERNATIONALE DU SURREALISM (EROS). PARIS: GALERIE DANIEL CORDIER, 1959

A collection of letters, objects, original prints, and a paperback exhibition catalogue, housed in a cardboard box (11 x 7 ½ x 2 ¾ in.; 278 x 190 x 70 mm) covered with green paper, removable top; some wear at edges and corners.

Lascivious letters!

Number 190 of 200 (of a whole edition of 230) of the most inventive exhibition catalogue/swag bag ever produced. Although André Breton and Marcel Duchamp originated the idea of this exhibition and catalogue, much of the credit for the fulfilment and execution of this project belongs to Canadian artist Mimi Parent. Breton wrote in August 1959, "Concerning the green box which Mimi has had the happy idea of and for which she has produced a maquette, I imagine no one will raise any objection to its production." The exhibition opened in December 1959 at Galerie Daniel Cordier.

The following items are to be found in the Boite alerte:

Catalogue of the exhibition.

8 Missives lascives by Micheline Bounoure, Alain Joubert, Joyce Mansour, Robert Benayoum, Octavio Paz, André Pieyre, Mimi Parent (black silk stocking in an envelope with transparent window), and one anonymous.

A telegram on pink paper by Marcel Duchamp writing as Rrose Sélavy to André Breton — A vinyl 45 rpm two-sided record with recordings of poems by Joyce Mansour and Benjamin Peret — 6 color postcards of works by Bellmer, Dali, Gorky, Miro, Svanberg, and Clovis Trouille.

4 original signed and numbered lithographs by Joan Miro, Marie Toyen, Max Walter Svanberg; and an original signed and numbered etching by Jacques Le Marechal.