[Satie, Erik. (1866–1925)] [Cocteau, Jean. (1889–1963)]
Action. No. 2, Mars 1920
Paris: Jacques Povolozky. 1920. First edition. 8vo. 62 pp. Finely printed periodical publication in original thick brown wrappers, with contributions from Cocteau ("Eric Satie"), Suarès ("Titiana"), Max Jacob ("Poèmes"), Goll, Salmon, Allard, Hertz, Thérive, Dunan, Mary, Christian. Original woodcuts and lithographs by Derain, André Domin, Galanis, Max Jacob and reproductions of works by Picasso, Braque, Gris, Severini, Gromaire, Vlaminck. The issue in fine condition, with wrappers slightly darkened around edges.Cocteau's remarkable essay on Satie was originally given at a conference in Brussels on December 18, 1919, but was first published here. He urges the reader to take the music of Satie on its own terms ("to judge a lamp it would be ridiculous to begin with an idea of a chair") and gives an overview of Satie's life, the life of a "young man of 50 years old."
"Historians who wish to understand the intellectual and cultural-political climate in France after World War I, can profitably examine the avant-garde magazine Action. This short-lived literary alternative to André Breton’s Surrealism published only twelve issues between November, 1919 and May/June, 1922, but it was influential..." (Walter G. Langlois, 'Anarchism, Action and Malraux', in Twentieth Century Literature (Autumn 1978) p. 272-289. (5709)
Printed Music Classical Music