Henri van Straten self-portrait, a linocut
presumably based on an oil done by him.
Henri van Straten (1892 -1944) was a Flemish artist. He belonged to the ‘De Vijf’, along with Frans Masereel, Jozef Cantré, Jan-Frans Cantré and Joris Minne, he helped revive Flemish woodcarving after the First World War. In September 1944 van Straten disappeared without a trace. He is believed to have died during the bombing of Merksem.
AKA Henry van Straten.
L’après-midi d’un faune 1919 & 1920 (The Afternoon of a Faun)
Henri Van Straten’s suite of 6 linocuts was inspired by the poem (of the same name) by Stephane Mallarmé (1842-1898); there is no story arc to this suite, they are just illustrations hence this is NOT a wordless novel.
- 1919 self-published
- in an edition of 25 copies
- on the title page, signed by van Straten and numbered in pencil
- in a loose portfolio
- each linocut approx. 6 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches
- some sets with some hand colouring
- 1920 published by Lumière (2nd edition)
- in an edition of 100 copies.
- Imprint [Antwerp, Belgium]
- no place and year of publication indicated
- 255/190mm
- suite of six linocuts (+ title vignette);
- Some copies issued with hand-coloring eg #33
- signed and numbered in pencil on the front title page
Title page numbered and signed in
pencil. Image credit: Art Books Gallery
1920. Sample print.
La dormeuse 1921 (The Sleeper)
Inspired by the poem “The Sleeper” by Edgar Allen Poe (1831), La Dormeuse was one of van Straten’s early block books and won him the Lumière graphic art prize. Once again it is a suite of illustrations but they do not constitute a wordless novel.
- Imprint Anvers : Aux éditions “Lumière”, 1921
- Published in an edition of:
- 20 copies Roman numbered ex. on Van Gelder; each sheet signed
- 200 copies initialled on Japanese; numbered 21 to 220.
- 7 unnumbered leaves of plates
- 25 cm
1921 La Dormeuse.
1921 La Dormeuse.