Legrand, Gerard, Jose Pierre, Jean Schuster, eds. — Coupure No. 2, Janvier 1970

Paris, France, Editions Le Terrain Vague, 1970. First Edition. Softcover. Size: Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Scarce in any condition and state, an influential if short-lived chronicle of French social and art history. Produced handsomely and colorfully in folio format, horizontally folded, but measuring 12 3/4" x 13 3/4" wide and tall, respectively, when unfolded. coupure was a French-language art and literature, politics and culture magazine of sorts that ran from 1969-72. Each issue was comprised of eight pages on two unstitched-together sheets, except for the infamous No. 4, a two-page issue that was printed on one sheet only. Boldly illustrated with photos and collages in black-and-white, duotone and also full-color. One of the three editors, Jean Schuster, is said to have been entrusted by the leading Surrealist and activist André Breton the task of "safeguarding" the Surrealist movement and legacy, he in effect having disbanded Surrealism in order to replace, he said at the time, "historical" with "eternal" Surrealism. With Gerard Legrand and Jose Pierre Gerard Legrand launched coupure. Not every Surrealist took it lying down, of course; much mayhem ensued, beginning with Jean-Louis Bédouin's opening salvo published in Le Monde that foreswore Breton's right and authority to have done so. Each issue is itself a collage, a motley assortment of news and features, photographs and snippets, art pieces and current events, obituaries and manifestos. The infamous No. 4 (titled "La cause de peuple") was banned, declared illegal and then confiscated by French authorities because of its depiction in Maoist terms of French government and military officials. This issue treats of Charles Fourier, Benjamin Peret, William Shakespeare, Josef Stalin, Eva Beuys, Joseph Beuys, Lilo Klapheck, Konrad Klapheck, a month-by-month horoscopic calendar for 1970, and odd pieces from Le Monde.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. . . . Near Fine