(BALTHUS, BALTHASAR.) Thirion, André. La Metamorphose des Nappes: Dessins sur nappes de restaurant réalisés par des artistes contemporains. Introduction by Georges Hugnet and Roland Penrose. 54 reproductions of artist's drawings on restaurant tablecloths and napkins, including one original pencil drawing by balthus, signed and dated 23 November 1949, 134x145 mm; 5 1/4x5 3/4 inches, drawing on an unevenly torn fragment measuring roughly 6x8 1/2 inches. Thin folio, gilt-lettered black cloth; pictorial dust jacket. (Paris): Filipacchi, [1985]
number 7 of only 15 roman-numbered copies signed by the author and with an original sketch by balthus from a total edition of 75; additionally inscribed by Daniel Filipacchi to recipient. A wonderful study of the spontaneous, food and drink-induced and inspired drawings on napkins and paper tablecloths of cafés by contemporary artists including Picasso, Ernst, Tanning, Balthus, Mayo, Calder, Magnelli, Pieyre de Mandiargues, Halicka, Lam, Cocteau, Bell, as well as Hugnet, Penrose and Thirion themselves, along with many others. Many of the sketches incorporate the various stains from wine, mustard, sauces, etc. to create humorous images of fantastic animals, figures, and abstractions. Numbers 8-75 contained a napkin sketch by one of the other artists included in the book.
