La main sur le mur

1983

Author: Michel Butor (1926-) 
Artist: Julius Baltazar (1949-)
Published: Paris, I.S.M., 1981

Michel Butor first became known as the figurehead of the 'Nouveau roman', but recently he has been writing nothing but poetry. Poems are dynamic, he says, they represent mobility and metamorphosis, for those with a 'nomadic spirit'. Some of these poems come to him spontaneously during a walk through the forest, but Butor usually writes to commission for a painter, graphic artist or sculptor. His bibliography lists over 1000 editions, hundreds of which include works of art by the likes of Pierre Alechinsky, Gregory Masurovsky and Henri Maccheroni.

Another artist with whom Butor collaborated regularly is Julius Baltazar (alias Lambion Gilles). Their collaboration began after a meeting in 1978. They produced dozens of books and works of art together, usually in exclusive limited editions (sometimes of no more than two copies), with texts that were sometimes printed, and sometimes handwritten by Butor. Le main sur le mur was published for the occasion of an exhibition by gallery Lorelei (in Brussels) in sixty copies, each with an original dry-point, etched in PVC by Baltazar. This was the first print of the poem that was later included in the collection La forme courte (1990). That collection is typical of Butor's ideas, as he considers 'the short form' of poetry a great advantage in such hasty times: 'Poetry is the haiku of daily life'.

Bibliographical description:

Description:	La main sur le mur / Michel Butor; [pointe-sèche de Julius Baltazar]. - Paris : I.S.M., 1981. - 4 p. : ill. ; 11×22 cm
Printer:	I.S.M. (Parijs) (txt) Luc Moreau (etching)
Exemplaar:	Number 57 of 60 on Arches
Note:	Signed by the artist
Bibliography:	Bénézit 1-694
Shelf-mark:	Koopm D 139

References:

• Baltazar: Livres manuscrits, imprimés gravés et pints, 1975-1986.[Bruxelles], Bibliotheca Wittockiana, 1986
• André Clavel, 'Michel Butor: le poète horticulteur', in: Lire, (2004) 325, p. 76-77