In 1917 Ambroise Vollard, who had become a famous and wealthy art dealer, offered to buy all the works from Rouault’s studio, a total of about 770, many of which were not finished yet. An exclusive contract between Vollard and Rouault was negotiated for four years. The artist agreed on the condition that he would take time to finish the works and would hand them on to Vollard only when they were ready. Impressed by “livres d’artiste”, Vollard literally showered Rouault with commissions to illustrate Reincarnations of Pere Ubu, Passion, Miserere and Les Fleurs du Mal. Vollard’s strength was in allowing the painter great liberty while providing him with the means to approach perfection. Every one of those books was born in throes of creativity, as a result of long efforts and unending quests. Prints not only featured prominently in his work during that period but influenced his painting. They enabled him to attain greater expressivity through the gradation of light and masterful drawing, taught him to be sparing and pushed him towards the synthesis of form.

The first monograph about Georges Rouault was published in 1921. The artist became famous. The Druet Gallery organized a large retrospective of Rouault in 1924. From that year on the artist worked in a studio on the upper floor of Vollard’s mansion at 28 Rue Martignac in Faubourg Saint-Germain.