Si Lewen’s The Parade: A Story in 55 Drawings is a wordless novel published in 1957. It arose from Lewen’s experiences in WW2, particularly upon reaching the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Albert Einstein praised the book, saying, “Our time needs you and your work!”
Lewen (1918 – 2016) was born into a Polish-Jewish family that moved to Berlin in 1920. In 1935, the family received visas to the United States, where Lewen attended an art school in New York City. He volunteered for the United States Army in 1942 and, later, on reaching the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, had a breakdown, which motivated him to do the drawings that make up The Parade.
Circa 1950, Lewen created at least 63 drawings using charcoal, pencil, crayon, ink, scratching, and hand-applied gesso on paperboard. The drawings are each 13 7/8 × 19 3/4 inches (35.3 × 50.1 cm).
The drawings are intended to be viewed sequentially where children grow up, play soldiers, are drafted into an army to kill or be killed and bystanders are subjected to atrocities.
Lewen used 55 of these drawings to portray the story in The Parade, published in 1957. In 2016 Art Spiegelman brought out a new edition titled: Si Lewen’s Parade: an Artist’s Odyssey.
Limited Edition with a Print – 100 copies
Title: THE PARADE: A STORY IN 55 DRAWINGS
Author: Si Lewen
Illustrator: Si Lewen
Introduction: Albert Einstein
Date of publication: 1957
Publisher: H. Bittner and Co
Place of publication: New York, NY
Printer: Meriden Gravure Co
Copyright: Artist
Dimensions:
Dust jacket: Yes
slipcase: Yes
Binding: 1/4 cloth, hard cover
Boards: paper-covered
Language: English titles, etc
Paginated: unpaginated
Printed: images recto
Edition: printing was limited to 1,000 copies, of which 100 were issued with an original woodcut, both the book and the woodcut numbered and signed out of 100.
Images are reproductions of the original drawings.
This corresponds to the numbering on the woodcut
and in the book limitation.
tight fit, and without seeing more examples, the speculation is that most slipcases
will display a similar condition.
a reaction to the glue on the front paste-down.
The front inner flap of the regular edition (of 900 copies) shows a price of $7.50. Any information as to the price of the limited signed edition would be appreciated.
NOTE: the spine, woodcut, and the book all have the same number
– in this case “66”. Intro by Albert Einstein recto.
The Regular edition of 900 copies
The remaining 900 copies appear to be the same as the limited edition, except:
- No slipcase has been mentioned in any listings with the regular edition
- The front flap has a price of $7.50 while no price is indicated on the limited signed edition
- The copies are not signed or numbered
- The copies lack an original print
to the woodcut or any limited copies.
Photo credit: TuesdayNightFever
2016 – Si Lewen’s Parade: an Artist’s Odyssey
In 2016, Art Spiegelman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Maus, brought out a new edition of The Parade. Instead of turning pages, it was a continuous roll of paper in a leporello (accordion-fold) style, allowing the images to be viewed without breaks, much like a movie. The roll is two-sided, with the other side containing comments, interviews, etc., related to the artist and the artwork.
Title: Si Lewen’s Parade: an Artist’s Odyssey
Introduction: Art Spiegelman
Date of publication: 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4197-2161-8 (trade edition)
ISBN: 978-1-4197-2332-2 (limited edition)
Publisher: Abrams Comicarts
Place of publication: New York, NY
Printer:
Copyright: Artist?
Dimensions: Trade (12.00×9.00×1.25 inches)
slipcase: Yes, thin card
Binding: accordion
Boards: paper covered
Language: English titles, etc
Paginated: unpaginated
Printed: verso Spiegelman’s introduction, etc and recto (Lewen’s Parade)
Edition: Trade and limited
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