ARTAUD Antonin. Autograph letter signed to Jacques Rivière. - Lot 36

Lot 36
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ARTAUD Antonin. Autograph letter signed to Jacques Rivière. - Lot 36
ARTAUD Antonin. Autograph letter signed to Jacques Rivière. Paris, May 7, 1924. - 2 pp. in-4 (270 x 205 mm) in green ink on cream paper paper, recto-verso. A very rare autograph letter whose publication in October 1924 in the NRF, as part of the Correspondance avec Jacques Rivière, marked Antonin Artaud's real appearance on the literary scene. The author himself would agree, not starting his complete works with Tric-Trac du ciel, published by Kahnweiler in 1922 ("This little book of verses does not represent me in any way"), but with this correspondence, whose programmatic dimension is in line with Lautréamont's Poésies and Rimbaud's letters. "Dear Sir, to return to an old discussion, it's enough to imagine for a minute that this impossibility of expressing myself applies to the most necessary needs of my life, to my most urgent eventualities - and to the suffering that follows - to understand that it's not for lack of determination that I renounce myself. I'm available for poetry. It's only due to fortuitous circumstances, prior to my real possibilities, that I'm not fulfilling myself. All I need is for people to believe that I can crystallize things within me, in the right form and with the right words. I've had to wait all this time with [sic] to be in a position to send you this slim post, which is clear if not well-written. You can draw your own conclusions from it. One thing remains a little obscure in your letter: the use you intend to make of the poem I sent you. You've put your finger on one side of me: I'm not really interested in literature as such, but if by any chance you should see fit to publish it, please send me some proofs, as it's very important to me to change two or three words. All my best, Antonin Artaud, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées."
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