Costa rica-japon-india-france is a superbe correspondence between jean-pierre guillermet (porrentruy, switzerland, 1921- san josé 2017) to nesto jacometti (locarno, 1898- …
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Costa rica-japon-india-france is a superbe correspondence between jean-pierre guillermet (porrentruy, switzerland, 1921- san josé 2017) to nesto jacometti (locarno, 1898- 1973). Composed of three items written in french, in 1960. Excellent condition, perfectly readable. Autograph letter signed by j.p.guillermet. San josé, june 7th, 1960. Two pages, double-sided; typewritten letter signed by n. Jacometti. August 17th 1960. One page, single-sided. Signed ''nesto'' in carbon copy; a.l.s. By j.p. Guillermet. San josé, september 25 h 1960. Three pages, double-sided. This is a detailed correspondence between the swiss artist written from san josé, costa rica, and the swiss graphic art editor and collector nesto jacometti. After a period of ''adaptation'' of the european artist in costa rica, a tropical island that ignores the engraving art, and after a period of economic instability, guillermet starts dreaming again. His ''chichito'' , his first child has just been born for two months. He dreams of doing a circumnavigation costa rica, japan, india, france together with his wife, who has just won't a scholarship. Instead, the amusing typewritten letter by nesto jacometti reveals what are the news at the venice biennale, the european and american trends: ''la biennale de venise ne m'a aucunement emballé. Les tendances actuelles tournent terriblement vers le tachisme (\.) les americains font ça sur des énormes formats, des murs! on les imite un peu en europe (\.).'' jean-pierre guillermet (porrentruy, switzerland, 1921- san josé 2017) the swiss artist, best-known as painter, wood-engraver, lithographer, he realized murals and tapestries. His artistic career grew up during the 1950s and was strongly influenced by abstract expressionism atmosphere. Lover of travels, he explores mexico during the sixties and makes contacts with japan. Nesto jacometti (locarno, 1898- 1973) nesto jacometti is still today a fascinating figure of the locarno and international cultural scene of the last century. Collector and editor of graphic art, he was the promoter of two important editorial projects and adventures: the guilde internationale de la gravure and l’oeuvre gravée. Born in locarno at the end of the 19th century, at the age of 30 he left ticino to move to paris and immerse himself in the bohemian atmosphere of montparnasse. The war forces him to return to switzerland, to geneva, where he works in the journalistic field and he knows figures as albert skira and pierre cailler. With the latter one a collaboration born and resulted, in 1949, in a printing guild: an edition of etchings and lithographs destined for a wide circulation of the paris school. During all his life, jacometti collaborates and involves artists such as rufino tamayo and jean lurçat, antoni clavé, zao wou-ki, alfred manessier, gustave singier and zoran music. In 1955 jacometti engaged in the new publishing initiative, l'oeuvre gravée, calling new prestigious names on the parisian art scene. Many artists owe their initiation to the art of engraving to him: marino marini, massimo campigli, johnny friedlaender, corneille, max ernst. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution
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