Description

Handwritten draft by Louis Aragon of a letter addressed to various figures of the intellectual world, dated February 12th, 1929.

We have here the draft of a letter addressed to numerous public figures of the intellectual world, with a list of them at the end of the document. Written by Aragon, this letter dated February 12th is a major document of the Great Game (le Grand Jeu) affair, which appears as one of the Surrealists' first attempts to take a stand in a largely political domain. This letter is published in the Pléiade vol. I, p. 953, preceded by a comment which sees it as a “signal in the void,” addressed to various figures, of which some have “seriously failed," others not, and of whom the Surrealists would like to acknowledge their position in order to proceed to a “general confrontation.” It is comparable to the Congress of Paris which had failed in the 1920’s but with a much more political slant. [Atelier André Breton site, 2005]

Handwritten manuscripts in a red folder titled A.A.E.R. (Association des Artistes et Écrivains Révolutionnaires), February 12th, 1929.
- 3 pages in-4° handwritten in black ink by Breton and Aragon on a paper with the heading “La Gallerie Surréaliste,” and on the back of a paper with the heading “Cintra” of a letter-questionnaire addressed to more than 70 public figures:

“1) Do you consider that all in all (with the importance of personal considerations, the real lack of external determinations, notable passivity and incapacity of the youngest members to get organized…) your activity should or should not be restricted, permanently or temporarily, to an individual engagement?

“2 a) If yes, would you accept to make, in the name of all that has brought us together, a short presentation of your motives? Define your position.

“2 b) If no, to which extent do you consider that a common activity could be carried out or resumed; of what kind would it be; and with whom would you wish or accept to conduct it? Answers should be addressed no later than February 25th 1929 to Raymond Queneau...; they will provide the foundation for a debate. Those individuals who have answered the previous questionnaire will be summoned."

Letter dated from “Paris, February 12th, 1929”, of which these three handwritten pages are the first draft. Numerous crossings-out and corrections.

- 1 page in-4° handwritten in black ink, constituting the first draft of a list of 76 public figures to which this letter would be sent. (Crossings-out and corrections).

- 1 page in-4° handwritten in black ink constituting the final list of the recipients of this letter. (La Pléiade, Tome I, Alentours III, « À suivre. Petite contribution au dossier de certains intellectuels à tendances révolutionnaires, Paris, 1929 », pp. 953-955).

Bibliography

- André Breton et Louis Aragon, « À suivre », Variétés, numéro spécial « Le surréalisme en 1929 », Belgique, Bruxelles, p. III-IV.

- José Pierre (dir.), Tracts surréalistes et Déclarations collectives (1922-1969), Paris, Le Terrain vague (Éric Losfeld éditeur), 1980, t. I, p. 96

- André Breton (Édition de Marguerite Bonnet avec la collaboration de Philippe Bernier, Étienne-Alain Hubert et José Pierre), « À suivre », Alentours III, Œuvres complètes, tome I, Bibliothèque de la Pléiade, Paris, Gallimard, 1988, p. 953-956.

 

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Creation date	12/02/1929
Languages	French
Library	Bibliothèque municipale de Nantes : Ms 3485
Number of pages	5 p.
Reference	211000
Breton Auction, 2003	Lot 2146
Keywords	Aragon case, Association of Revolutionary Artists and Writers, Correspondence, Investigations et Questionnaires, Letter, Reviews and Journals, Tract
Categories	Archives, Correspondence, Forwarded Correspondences
Set	[Archives] dossier A.A.E.R./A.E.A.R, [Journal] Variétés, Tracts surréalistes et déclarations collectives
Permanent link	https://www.andrebreton.fr/en/work/56600100646950

See also