Henri van Straten self-portrait, a linocut
presumably based on an oil
painting also done by him.

Henri van Straten helped revive Flemish woodcarving after the First World War and was a Flemish artist belonging to ‘De Vijf’, a group that included Frans Masereel. The other three being Jozef Cantré, Jan-Frans Cantré and Joris Minne.

Henri van Straten (1892 -1944) AKA Henry. In September 1944, he disappeared without a trace and is believed to have died during the bombing of Merksem.

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 to the poem, hence this is NOT a novel, albeit wordless.

  • 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 have some hand colouring
  • 1920 published by Lumière (2nd edition)
    • in an edition of 100 copies.
    • Imprint [Antwerp, Belgium]
    • no place or year of publication is indicated
    • 255 x 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
Folder for Henri van Straten’s L’après-midi d’un faune 1920
Henri van Straten’s L’après-midi d’un faune.
Title page numbered and signed in
pencil. Image credit: Art Books Gallery
Henri van Straten’s L’après-midi d’un faune
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 without a story arc. They are just illustrations, hence this is NOT a novel, albeit wordless.

  • Imprint Anvers : Aux éditions “Lumière”, 1921
  • Published in an edition of:
    • 20 copies Roman-numbered ex. on Van Gelder; each sheet signed and numbered I to XX.
    • 200 copies initialled on Japanese; numbered 21 to 220.
  • 7 unnumbered leaves of plates
  • 25 cm
  • DJ is a thin blue tissue (frequently torn).
Folder for Henri van Straten’s, 1921 La Dormeuse
Limitation page for Henri van Straten’s,
1921 La Dormeuse.
Images from Henri van Straten’s,
1921 La Dormeuse.

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