Charades (lithographs by Jacob Landau)

LANDAU'S RAREST AND MOST IMPORTANT GRAPHIC SERIES. This is a suite of 10 haunting and enigmatic original lithographs by Jacob Landau, each one justified and signed in pencil by the artist. From an edition of 20 sets printed on fine BFK Rives wove paper, this is set 20/20. Additionally signed by Landau in the colophon. Furthermore, this is an outstanding association copy, with Landau's signed presentation inscription to Sylvan and Lilyan Cole. Sylvan Cole (1918-2005) was the most important dealer in American prints of his (or any) generation, and as director of Associated American Artists he published and sold many of Landau's prints. Lilyan was his second wife. *** "I did a suite of lithographs called Charades… I associated the name Charades with what Goya had called Caprichos, …riddles, puzzles. He also did a series called Proverbs, where he picked up on sayings that were common in the land, but dealt with them in mysterious, puzzling ways. And, I dealt with what came out of my obsessions, things that I did not fully understand. Fear of death, for instance, and a sort of frustrated feeling of love. These are obsessions that manifest themselves in various ways and images. The reason they seem to appeal to others is because apparently other people share some of the same obsessions. That’s where the archetypal aspect comes in." --Jacob Landau. *** Folio. FINE AND BRIGHT WITH NO DEFECTS. Housed in the original cloth folding case, by Schuberth Bookbindery of San Francisco. An outstanding item. Since all of the lithographs are signed, most sets have been broken up. This set, however, was in Sylvan Cole's private collection from the day it was presented to him by the artist until his death in June, 2005. IMPORTANT NOTE: During March, 2006, hundreds of prints represented as being from "the Sylvan Cole collection" were sold at public auction. In fact, ALL of these items were from his leftover gallery inventory, not his private collection. As far as I know, the few items I offer from Sylvan's collection are the ONLY items anywhere on the market which are actually from his private collection (which he kept in his apartment, not his gallery). I acquired them all directly from Sylvan (my uncle), mainly in spring, 2005.