Autographs by Zadkine - The Destroyed City

Autographs by Ossip Zadkine to Nesto Jacometti,  is a lot composed of 5 items, 5  autographs letters signed , written in French, 1953-1958.

A correspondence concerning the Ossip Zadkine's best-known work, The Destroyed City, a statue commemorating the destruction of the Dutch city center of Rotterdam by the German Luftwaffe in 1940.  The Russian-born French sculptor writes to his graphic editor to promote his new statue, asking a critical text in occasion of the inauguration of the commemorative statue. The others letters concern the Ossip lithographer, called by Nest Jacometti, the promoter of two important editorial projects: the  Guilde Internationale de la Gravure  and  L’Oeuvre Gravée.

Excellent condition, perfectly readable. 

Ossip Zadkine (Vitebsk, 1890 – Neuilly-sur-Seine 1967),  was a Russian-born French naturalized artist. He is primarily known as a sculptor, but also produced paintings and lithographs. He was born in present-day Belarus, to a Jewish father and mother of Scottish descent. After attending the London art school, Zadkine settled in Paris around 1910. There he joined the Cubist movement (1914-1925), later he developed his own style, strongly influenced by African art. His best-known work is The Destroyed City (1951-1953), a statue commemorating the destruction of the Dutch city center of Rotterdam by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. In 1951 he won the sculpture prize at the Venice Biennale and had a notable influence on contemporary sculptors after the Second World War.

Nesto Jacometti (Locarno, 1898- 1973)

 Nesto Jacometti is still today a fascinating figure of the Locano 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. He was awarded at the Venice Biennale in 1953, with the Critics' Grand Prix . In 1955 Jacometti engaged in the new publishing initiative, L'Oeuvre Gravée , calling new prestigious names on the Parisian art scene.