-1918 25 Images de la Passion d’un Homme

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 his 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
• 25 woodcuts printed from the original blocks:
  • 6 woodcuts of 12.8 × 10.6 cm,
  • 14 woodcuts of 13.5 x 10.5 cm,
  • 5 woodcuts of 13.3 x 11 cm.
  • Title page drawn and decorated with a drawing of 3 x 3.5 cm.
• References: Ritter B a 5.I; Avermaete 3
• 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.

1918 2nd edition

Second edition. Published 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 n^0s 4 to 153.

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