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Reply to an enquiry about the Winged Victory of Samothrace

What should be done with the Winged Victory of Samothrace’s hand?

Manuscript

Author

Author André Breton

Description

Manuscript of a reply by André Breton to an enquiry in Arts, dated 13 August 1954.

Paris, 13 August 1954: Breton offers an ironic response to an enquiry in the Arts magazine about the recently rediscovered hand from the Winged Victory of Samothrace, in his case preferring to leave intact a little of the mystery of this ‘shrew’ of a statue. [Atelier André Breton website, 2005]

Signed handwritten manuscript, Paris, 13 August 1954.
- 1/4 in-4° page of the first draft, titled: ‘Arts. What should be done with the (recently rediscovered) Winged Victory of Samothrace’s hand?’, signed and dated in ink by André Breton, with deletions and corrections, in response to this question from the weekly magazine Arts:

‘It must look ridiculous, this shrew’s hand, a palm reduced to just two fingers against all hope, not even clenched around a trumpet.’ [Auction catalogue, 2003]

Translated by Krzysztof Fijalkowski

Bibliography

André Breton (Édition publiée sous la direction d'Étienne-Alain Hubert avec la collaboration de Philippe Bernier et Marie-Claire Dumas), « [Réponse à une enquête sur la "Victoire de Samothrace"] », Alentours, Œuvres complètes, tome IV, Écrits sur l'art et autres textes, Bibliothèque de la Pléiade, Paris, Gallimard, 2008, p. 1051-1052, notice p.1443-1444