Books

A stunning hard-bound edition, limited to just 65 hand-numbered copies, signed in pencil on the colophon page by photographer Eikoh Hosoe, translator John Wood and publisher Steven Albahari. Ten tipped-in platinum prints, each signed on the reverse. Afterword, by Hosoe. French translations and introduction by John Wood. Bound at Praxis Bindery in matte black anodized aluminum boards with Japanese title printed in glossy black on the cover, with a black leather spine. With an additional, signed platinum print, 'Man and Woman No. 24', signed in kanji in pencil on the lower right margin by Hosoe, and placed in a separate protective folder. The book and print are in a red silk-covered clamshell box (18-1/4 x 15-1/4 inches) with a magnetized hinged clasp and title stamped in black on the cover, lined with red velvet and with Japanese title blind-stamped inside the lid. Fine condition in fine clamshell box. This title is easily among the most striking and pleasing from a publisher that produced many impressive photo�illustrated books in the early 21st century. This would certainly make an impressive gift either for a very close friend or oneself.

"Les Fleurs du mal" (The Flowers of Evil) is a seminal work by Charles Baudelaire, first published in 1857. It stands as one of the most influential collections of poetry in the modernist movement, exploring the complexities of beauty, decadence, and the ephemeral nature of happiness within the urban landscape of 19th-century Paris. Baudelaire delves into themes of love, despair, existential angst, and the search for transcendence, using vivid imagery and innovative poetic techniques to convey his insights and emotions. The collection is renowned for its exploration of the concept of "spleen," a term Baudelaire uses to describe a deep sense of melancholy and disillusionment. This mood is contrasted with the "Ideal," representing moments of beauty, joy, and spiritual elevation. "Les Fleurs du mal" captures the duality of human experience—the coexistence of light and darkness, purity and corruption. Baudelaire's poems navigate the reader through the gritty realities of urban life, touching on themes of alienation, moral decadence, and the impact of industrialization, while also seeking beauty in the mundane and the morbid. Baudelaire's work caused a scandal upon its release, leading to a public obscenity trial and the condemnation of six of the poems, which were only reinstated in later editions after his death. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, "Les Fleurs du mal" has endured as a masterpiece of French literature, influencing countless poets and artists with its complex portrayal of human nature and its pioneering use of symbolist imagery. Through "Les Fleurs du mal," Baudelaire not only reshaped the landscape of poetic form and expression but also offered a haunting, visionary response to the discontents of modern life.