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Thumbnail-size images of copyrighted artworks are displayed under fair use, in accordance with guidelines recommended by the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts, published by the College Art Association in February 2015.

A toute épreuve

Illustrated by: Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893–1983)
Author: Paul Eluard (French, 1895–1952)
Publisher: Gérald Cramer
Printer: Atelier Lacourière et Frélaut, Paris (20th century)
1958
Place of Publication: Paris, France

Medium/Technique Illustrated book with 80 color woodcuts, some with collage elements, plus two extra suites of the illustrations
Dimensions Sheet: 33.5 x 26 cm (13 3/16 x 10 1/4 in.)
Overall (each slipcase, depth variable): 34.7 x 27.2 x 7.7 cm (13 11/16 x 10 11/16 x 3 1/16 in.)
Credit Line Seth K. Sweetser Fund
Accession Number58.573a-c
NOT ON VIEW
Geneva: Gérald Cramer, 1958

Catalogue Raisonné Cramer, Miró livres illustrés, 049; Dupin 161-234; Artist & the Book, 209; Castleman, Century of Artists Books, pp. 100-01
Description(Geneva: Gérald Cramer, 1958) Folio; [book] 52 leaves; unbound, in original printed paper wraps (original half vellum, printed paper slipcase); in addition, two suites of prints in slipcase. Abstract color woodcuts with collage.

First edition with these illustrations. Copy No.3 of six special copies (of total edition of 130) with two extra sets of woodcuts, one on china and one on japan "nacré," set of color separation proofs for one block, proof painted in gouache by the artist, and an original woodblock. The blocks were cut by the artist with the assistance of Enric Tormo; the blocks were printed by Jacques Frélaut and Jaime Herrera of Atelier Lacourière et Frélaut, Paris; the text printed by Marthe Fequet and Pierre Baudier, Paris.

NOTE: The MFA owns proofs for two of the illustrations, a poster for an original exhibition of the book, and a proof for that poster (accession numbers 58.589-592). The Museum also holds one woodblock for the book (accession number 58.573c).
InscriptionsIn graphite on woodcut in suite on japan nacré: "pour Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Miró 24 / IV / 58"
Provenance1958, sold by Gérald Cramer, Geneva, to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 5, 1958)
Copyright© 2011 Successió Miró / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris.