Bidspirit auction | MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) The birth

MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) The birth of Impressionism: Monet seeks signatures for the new artists' Société - MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) French Impressionist painter. An important A.L.S., Claude Monet , two pages (written to the first and third sides of the bifolium), 8vo, Paris, 11th December 1873, to Camille Pissarro ( ´Mon cher Pissarro´ ), in French. Monet enquires after his colleague, remarking that he has not seen him for some time, and continues ´Venez donc prochainement, il faut nous voir à propos de ces signatures qui sont impossibles à décrocher. Avez-vous écrit à Robert, comme je vous le disais dans ma dernière lettre?´ (Translation: ´Do come along soon; we must meet to discuss those signatures which are impossible to secure. Have you written to Robert, as I mentioned in my last letter?´ ), further informing Pissarro ´Renoir est allé chez Guillemet, nous ne savons pas encore s´il signera, quoiqu´il ait dit toujours en être, mais je crois qu´il voudrait trouver un joint pour ne pas signer. Nous attendons sa réponse. J´ai écrit à Feyen-Perrin lequel ne m´a même pas répondu. Aussi je me flatte de n´y être pas allé. C´est très difficile de demander cela à des gens qui ne vous connaissent pas, surtout nous autres qui ne sommes pas sympathiques à tous, loin de là. Le seul moyen, c´est par connaissance, et donc je ne connais guère que les mêmes personnes que vous´ (Translation: ´Renoir went to see Guillemet; we do not yet know whether he will sign, although he has always said he would, but I suspect he is looking for an excuse not to sign. We are awaiting his reply. I wrote to Feyen-Perrin, who hasn’t even replied. So I’m rather glad I didn’t go to see him. It’s very difficult to ask such a thing of people who don’t know you, especially for the likes of us who aren’t liked by everyone—far from it. The only way is through personal connections, and so I hardly know anyone other than the same people as you´ ). In concluding Monet again urges Pissarro to visit, explaining that he will be leaving Paris in eight or ten days, and adds ´Si le hasard vous amène à Paris après-demain samedi, je serai à l´atelier toute la journée´ (Translation: ´If by chance you find yourself in Paris the day after tomorrow, Saturday, I’ll be at the studio all day´ ). A significant letter from the formative months of Impressionism, vividly documenting Monet's efforts to secure the signatures necessary for the establishment of the independent artists' society which, just four months later, would stage the historic First Impressionist Exhibition. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) French Impressionist painter and one of the central figures in the development of Impressionism. A close friend and colleague of Monet, Pissarro played a leading role in establishing the independent artists' society and would become the only artist to exhibit at all eight Impressionist exhibitions between 1874 and 1886. Léon-Paul-Joseph Robert (1849-1888) French painter, generally known as Léon-Paul Robert. One of the artists approached during the formation of the Société, Robert became a signatory of its founding act on 27th December 1873, although, like Guillemet and Feyen-Perrin, he did not participate in the First Impressionist Exhibition of 1874. Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) French Impressionist painter and one of Monet's closest associates during the formative years of the movement. Renoir became a founding member of the Société and served on its provisional supervisory council; he subsequently exhibited seven works at the First Impressionist Exhibition of 1874. Antoine Guillemet (1841-1918) French landscape painter and a friend of Édouard Manet, Monet, Pissarro and other members of the emerging Impressionist circle. Although more closely aligned with the official Salon than many of his contemporaries, Guillemet ultimately signed the founding act of the Société in December 1873, although he did not participate in its celebrated exhibition the following April. Auguste Feyen-Perrin (1826-1888) French painter, engraver and illustrator, known particularly for genre scenes and depictions of Breton life. Despite apparently ignoring Monet's approach recorded in the present letter, Feyen-Perrin subsequently became one of the signatories of the Société's founding act and was named among its provisional administrators, although he did not participate in the First Impressionist Exhibition. The present letter was written at a pivotal moment in the formation of the group which would shortly become identified as the Impressionists. Frustrated by the restrictions and juries of the official Salon, Monet, Pissarro and their associates sought to establish an independent organisation through which artists could exhibit and sell their work without jury or awards.