About the cover:
Full-grain binding Beige buffalo leather, light blue buffalo leather inlaid in the centre of both covers, large multicoloured drops and several 2 mm thick plexiglass drops printed in colour on the underside glued to the front and back covers, black spine title à la chinoise; barbed edge, hand-stitched beige silk endpapers, mirror and flyleaf of light beige Japanese creased paper, half-leather hinged case with black embossed title on light blue leather label.
About the content:
Jules Laforgue: Les Complaintes
With original lithographs by Gabriel Dauchot, Ex. No. 88 for the shareholder Fernand Sicart, from a total of 130 copies on Rives, Société Normande des amis du libre, Paris 1957.
Like many of his French contemporaries, Laforgue was preoccupied with modern thinkers. In his work, he shocks readers by playing with poetic discourse, parodies, forgeries and even paraphrases. His work is also anchored in the decadent spirit of the end of the century, which does not correspond to the Romantics' idea of harmony, beauty and balance. With irony, he exposes the complaints, mistakes and excesses of Romanticism.
About the artist: After studying at the École Estienne in the class of Raymond Mondange, among others, Daniel Henri Mercher worked from 1964 onwards in the studio of his father Henri Mercher (1912–1976) who was one of the most innovative binding artists of the 20th century. In 1968, Daniel set up his own business and in 1972, he took over his father's workshop.
He focused on hand gilding and gave lessons. In 1995, he moved from Paris to Wissous, 15 kilometres south of Paris. He retired in 2015.
