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When Baudelaire published the first edition of Les Fleurs du mal in 1857, the subject matter and the style touched off a scandal. The resulting outcries from some critics and his defense by others led to Baudelaire s trial for obscenity. He was ordered to pay a 300-franc fine and exclude six poems from the book. (Even his mother thought the poems were blasphemous.) Today, we can appreciate how Baudelaire extended the subject range of poetry. Inspired by Baudelaire s images, Henri Cartier-Bresson has chosen three poems from Les Fleurs du mal to illustrate with four photogravures. Among those banned in 1857 was Les Promesses d un visage ( What a Pair of Eyes Can Promise ). In the original French, with the English translation on facing pages. Four photogravures by Henri Cartier-Bresson. Edition limited to 300 numbered copies. Each book signed by Henri Cartier-Bresson. To produce the photogravures, each of Cartier-Bresson s negatives was transferred to a copper plate using gelatin-coated paper. This photogravure process is complex and painstaking, but can reveal details unseen in the negatives. Gravure plates were made and the prints editioned by Jon Goodman all on hand-made paper. Bound in red linen and presented in a red linen covered and lined case. One Volume, 13� x 14� inches. As the publisher, we unconditionally guarantee that all books are authentic and the condition is As New (NOS).

"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.