verso
Commentary
In the spring of 1945, André Breton (1896–1966) asked Gorky to produce drawings to accompany his forthcoming book of poems which he titled Young Cherry Trees Secured Against Hares / Jeunes cerisiers garantis contre les lièvres. Published in 1946, in French with English translations by Edouard Roditi (1910–1992), the cover was designed by Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968). The first edition of 1,000 copies featured two photo-mechanically reproduced line drawings by Gorky (D1557a and D1197). The second reproduction, illustrated on the last page, is of this drawing. The marking on the verso of the drawing (see D1557b), "5 1/4″," likely refers to the width of the reproduction. A limited deluxe edition was also issued in twenty-five copies, individually numbered and signed on the colophon page, and to each of which Gorky contributed two unique hand-colored drawings.