Paris: 1933-1935. Mostly tall 4to. (35 x 23 cm), folio for nos. 48 through 56 (48 x 35 cm). Original wrappers with red, white, and blue illustrations. Each issue circa 16 pages, some scattered toning, browning, and light foxing, overall very good condition.

A rare complete collection of the boldly designed and short-lived satirical political journal which embodied French opposition to compromise with Nazism during the early Hitler years. Offering a scathing look at French political life, the journal took a regular summer hiatus at the end of June 1935 and never resumed production, as editor Paul Iribe passed away shortly before the next issue was set to release in the fall.

The journal was edited by French illustrator and designer Paul Iribe, who also created the eye-catching and satirical red, white, and blue cover designs. Many of them contain a recurring character, "Marianne", the anthropomorphized symbol of France, who Iribe drew to resemble Coco Chanel. Iribe was known internationally for his contributions to Art Deco, his love affair with Chanel, and his work in the fashion industry and in Hollywood. He created advertising campaigns for Ford Motors, worked with designers like Paul Poiret, and even ran his own studio for decorative arts designs including furniture and fabric. One of his most recognizable projects was the design of Egypt in Cecil B. DeMille's 1923 film, "The Ten Commandments". The issues are profusely illustrated through with caricatures by artists like Charles Laborde, J. Villemont, Sennep, Vertès, P. Laurier, and others.

This run of Le Témoin is actually the second journal of that name put out by Iribe. The original Témoin ran from 1906 to 1910 and was the first of several newspapers and journals Iribe published and contributed to during his lifetime. The texts in Le Témoin are witty and intelligent as well as harsh, and the cover and centerfold illustrations captured Iribe's current political critiques as well as the larger issues facing France at the time. The back covers contain endorsements for various French industries and the French business sector in general.

Within the pages of Le Témoin, Iribe never shied away from expressing his political stance. A staunch nationalist, he saw France as being the subject of bullying by other major Western powers and stressed the importance of France asserting its independence. The most common targets for his critiques were not foreign powers but rather France's own leaders, as well as national infrastructure and domestic issues such as taxes and the rail system.

Book ID: 51940

Price: $6,000.00