Masereel had produced “cycles” ie a set of prints all on the same theme but 25 Images de la Passion d’un Homme was the first time the images followed a story arc ie a wordless novel.

There are two 1918 editions. If you have images of either edition please get in touch to compare – wn@wordlessnovels.com

  • Title: 25 Images de la Passion d’un Homme
  • Author and Illustrator: Frans Masereel
  • Introduction: no
  • Date of publication: 1918
  • Publisher: self published
  • Place of publication: Geneve
  • Printer: ?
  • Copyright: Artist?
  • Folder Dimensions: 29.5cm H x 24cm W; (11 5/8 x 9 1/2 inches)
  • Folder: two cards joined with a linen tape spine. Thin black paper pasted on front/back covers that overlaps the tape spine; sheet of thin white paper pasted across inner surfaces of cover.
  • Binding: loose pages in a portfolio folder
  • Language: French titles, etc
  • Paginated: unpaginated
  • Printed: on loose sheets
  • Printed from the original blocks
  • References: Ritter B a 5.I
  • Description: tissue guards between each loose sheet; unsure if these were added at a later date
  • 1st Edition: limited to 53 numbered and signed copies
    • 1 ex. on Japon, #1, hand drawn by the author containing the 25 original drawings, each proof being signed,
    • 2 ex. on Japon, #2 and 3, hand drawn by the author, each proof signed;
    • 50 ex. on Vergé, #4 to 53, signed with the justification on the cover label.
Front paste down on this copy came loose and was
pasted to the inside of the front cover as shown
in the next image.
String ties on this copy may be a later addition.
Justification, which had originally been pasted to front cover.
Signed with blue pencil.
Inside folder cover; Justification label not originally here.
String ties may be a replacement.
Title page

1918 2nd edition

Second edition. Edited by Frans Masereel, Geneva. 27 x 23.5 cm 64 pp album. Cover and title page reproducing the title page of the original edition.

  • 1 ex. on Japon, n ° 1, signed;
  • 1 ex. on Hollande, n ° 2, signed;
  • 1 ex. h.c. on Holland, n ° 3;
  • 150 ex. on Matte vellum n0s 4 to 153.

Any images of this 2nd edition are greatly appreciated. wn@wordlessnovels.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *