les fleurs de mal
'contemporary criticism of [charles] meunier was mixed.
although most observers found him talented, innovative, and instinctive, he offended contemporary bibliophiles by producing vast numbers of covers containing emblematic and pictorial themes, often thought to be gaudy and crudely executed commercial ventures pandering to the tastes of the period's bourgeoisie.
his output was prodigious and he moved with ease between styles and periods, a fact which further offended purists who felt that his talent lay primarily in the creation of half-bindings with decorative spines.'
-- art nouveau and art deco bookbinding, duncan & de bartha
this story sounds sadly familiar....
also, it should be noted, i was unable to find anywhere what if any relationship existed between charles meunier and henri meunier.
although most observers found him talented, innovative, and instinctive, he offended contemporary bibliophiles by producing vast numbers of covers containing emblematic and pictorial themes, often thought to be gaudy and crudely executed commercial ventures pandering to the tastes of the period's bourgeoisie.
his output was prodigious and he moved with ease between styles and periods, a fact which further offended purists who felt that his talent lay primarily in the creation of half-bindings with decorative spines.'
-- art nouveau and art deco bookbinding, duncan & de bartha
this story sounds sadly familiar....
also, it should be noted, i was unable to find anywhere what if any relationship existed between charles meunier and henri meunier.
Labels: bookbinding, charles meunier
2 Comments:
The top book cover is lovely but the others a bit much. I haven't read any Baudelaire in a long time and think I will pull my old copy of Les Fleurs de Mal off the shelf. It has a much more prosaic cover than the one you have posted.
i'm sure that the text doesn't mind a bit. ;^)
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hi, and thanks so much for stopping by. i spend all too much time thinking my own thoughts about this stuff, so please tell me yours. i thrive on the exchange!
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