BRASSAÏ (Gyula Halász, known as). Autograph manuscript,... Lot 17

BRASSAÏ (Gyula Halász, known as). Autograph manuscript, in French. 1936-1937 and n.d. 14 ff., i.e.: 9 ff. in-4 of which 8 recto-verso, and 5 miscellaneous small-format clippings handwritten on the recto, all mounted on tabs on large in-4 paper leaves bound in a black half-maroquin volume, smooth spine with title in white letters and numerals; torn leaves restored (Ateliers Laurenchet). FRAGMENTS FROM HIS DIARY: "... Paris, March 4, 1936... Visit from photographer Dretxol [František Drtikol?], who has just returned from South America, having traveled 35,000 kilometers by rail, airplane, horseback, etc., through Bolivia, Chile, Peru, etc., with his camera. We are surrounded by marvels, it's a question of seeing them and making them seen. It almost saddened me to see how poor was the result of such a wonderful journey through such exotic countries and lands. Not one really striking, human photo. As ALL EMOTION COMES FROM THE HUMAN, how can you expect emotion from something where the whole point is based on the exotic... " He also talks about a mixed process of photography modified by "scratching" on a plate that he invented, his long-standing passion for photographing Parisian nights, his aversion to specialization in art, and so on. Provenance: "le fonds Mélusine" bookplate.