ARTAUD ANTONIN: (1896-1948) 'there's something so demoralising about a hospital'

ARTAUD ANTONIN: (1896-1948) 'there's something so demoralising about a hospital'

ARTAUD ANTONIN: (1896-1948) French theatre director, actor and dramatist, considered a major figure of the European avant-garde. A.L.S., Antonin Artaud, two pages, 4to, n.p., 22nd February 1946, to Mrs. Jean Paulhan ('Chere amie'), in French. Artaud writes in response to his correspondent's recommendation to contact a Dr. Borel who had indicated that he would admit Artaud to his nursing home on Rue Boileau at a cost of between 90 and 100 francs per day, remarking 'J'y resterai entre huit et dix jours. Il y'aurait des frais en plus......Je crois qu'ils s'attendent a ce quel'on paye d'avance, mais vous verrez vous-meme avec cette personne et me direz quand je pourrai rentrer. Pour l'hopital, il y a dans un hopital quel chose de si demoralisant, que chez un homme en plus demoralise le sejour y devient intenable au bout de quelques jours, et en general on abandonne et tout est a recommencer' (Translation: 'I will stay there for between eight and ten days. There would be extra costs...... I think they expect us to pay in advance, but you can see for yourself with this person and tell me when I can go back. As for the hospital, there's something so demoralising about a hospital, that in a man who's even more demoralised, the stay there becomes unbearable after a few days, and generally you give up and have to start all over again'). Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a couple of small, neat tears to the upper and lower left edges, otherwise VG

Germaine Paulhan (1885-1976) Second wife of Jean Paulhan (1884-1968) French writer, literary critic and publisher. Germaine worked with Jean whilst he was director of the literary magazine Nouvelle Revue Francaise and she played a central role in serving other writers. They were married in 1933.

In 1946 an auction was arranged for the benefit of Artaud by the Friends of Antonin Artaud’s Support Committee which was chaired by Jean Paulhan and the committee's secretary was Jean Dubuffet.