Books

New York. The Limited Editions Club. 1997. Bound in full crimson cloth with imprinted paper label laid-on to Front Cover. Matching Suede-lined Solander box with imprinted black titles to spine. Large Square Folio. 16.25" x 15 inches. This Edition Limited to only 300 numbered copies of which this is #142. Boldly signed byHenri Cartier-Bresson to Colophon. LEC Letter laid-in. Illustrated with four spectacular full-page photogravure prints, printed on hand- made paper by Cartier-Bresson and selected by him especially for this Edition. Cartier-Bresson's only published nude studies to date. Spine of Box mildly and evenly sunned with a tiny, short scratch. Small patch of mild sunning to top front cover of Box. A Very Fine, Pristine, apparently unread copy of this most rare and exquisite production in a Near Fine+ Box.

"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.