About The Work
In May, 1954, Yves Klein released only a few copies of Yves Peintures. This collection of monochromes has become so hard to find nowadays that it has been considered legendary. At the time it was produced and edited by Fernando Franco’s engraving workshop in Madrid. The preface, written by Pascal Claude, is composed of black lines instead of text. The ten rectangular plates are cut out of monochromatic paper and alongside with their graduated dimensions and captioned with a city’s name (Madrid, Nice, Tokyo, Paris).
This publication is considered as the first public gesture of Yves Klein as an artist. Through this piece, Yves Klein questions the idea of reproduction in art.
Starting from 1955, Klein exhibited colored monochromes (orange, green, red, yellow, blue, pink), all under the title “Yves Peintures” at the Club des Solitaires in Paris.
“Last night, on Wednesday, we went in an abstracts’ cafe […], the abstracts were there. They’re easy to recognize because they exhale of an abstract painting atmosphere and we see their paintings in their eyes. Maybe I am under some illusions, but I feel like I can see all of that. In any case, we were sitting with them […]. We got around to talking about the book Yves Peintures. Later, I went to get it from the car and threw it on the table. By the first few pages, the eyes of the abstracts had already changed. Their eyes lit up and in their depths appeared beautiful and pure unified colors.”
Klein, Journal parisien, on January 13th 1955.
Courtesy of Editions Dilecta
About Yves Klein
From The Magazine
- Interviews & Features: Roger Davies - The Art for Home Interview
- News & Events: "The Birth of Artificial Synthesis": The History of Blue and the Work of Helen Frankenthaler, Pablo Picasso, and Yves Klein
- Art 101: "Art Is Not About Skill": Benjamin Buchloh Interviews Lawrence Weiner On His Sensual Approach to Conceptual Art
- Art 101: How Masterpieces Get Sold: Behind 10 Contemporary Art Icons That Went Under the Hammer at Christie’s
- Art 101: Color Theory 101: How to Perfectly Pair Artworks in Your Home Using the Color Wheel
Book
Special copy re-edited to format and onto the original paper.
9.65 x 7.48 in
24.5 x 19.0 cm
Issued in a limited, numbered edition of 400 along with certificate from the Yves Klein Archives.
About The Work
In May, 1954, Yves Klein released only a few copies of Yves Peintures. This collection of monochromes has become so hard to find nowadays that it has been considered legendary. At the time it was produced and edited by Fernando Franco’s engraving workshop in Madrid. The preface, written by Pascal Claude, is composed of black lines instead of text. The ten rectangular plates are cut out of monochromatic paper and alongside with their graduated dimensions and captioned with a city’s name (Madrid, Nice, Tokyo, Paris).
This publication is considered as the first public gesture of Yves Klein as an artist. Through this piece, Yves Klein questions the idea of reproduction in art.
Starting from 1955, Klein exhibited colored monochromes (orange, green, red, yellow, blue, pink), all under the title “Yves Peintures” at the Club des Solitaires in Paris.
“Last night, on Wednesday, we went in an abstracts’ cafe […], the abstracts were there. They’re easy to recognize because they exhale of an abstract painting atmosphere and we see their paintings in their eyes. Maybe I am under some illusions, but I feel like I can see all of that. In any case, we were sitting with them […]. We got around to talking about the book Yves Peintures. Later, I went to get it from the car and threw it on the table. By the first few pages, the eyes of the abstracts had already changed. Their eyes lit up and in their depths appeared beautiful and pure unified colors.”
Klein, Journal parisien, on January 13th 1955.
Courtesy of Editions Dilecta
About Yves Klein
From The Magazine
- Interviews & Features: Roger Davies - The Art for Home Interview
- News & Events: "The Birth of Artificial Synthesis": The History of Blue and the Work of Helen Frankenthaler, Pablo Picasso, and Yves Klein
- Art 101: "Art Is Not About Skill": Benjamin Buchloh Interviews Lawrence Weiner On His Sensual Approach to Conceptual Art
- Art 101: How Masterpieces Get Sold: Behind 10 Contemporary Art Icons That Went Under the Hammer at Christie’s
- Art 101: Color Theory 101: How to Perfectly Pair Artworks in Your Home Using the Color Wheel
40 pages. Presented in a paper box and goldembossed.
Preface by Pascal Claude.
Postface by Denys Riout.
Postface by Jean-Louis Levy.
Bilingual text (tr. Charles Penwarden).
Special copy re-edited to format and onto the original paper.
- Ships in 1 to 7 business days from France.
- This work is final sale and not eligible for return.
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