1942 to 1944 · New York
by David Hare, with Max Ernst, Andre Breton, and Marcel Duchamp
The complete set of four issues in three volumes of VVV Magazine, N 1, N 2-3, N 4, published and printed in New York, during World War II from 1942 to 1944. VVV is considered a critical document of the Surrealist movement during the early 1940s, an important Surrealist journal edited by David Hare, with Max Ernst, Andre Breton, and Marcel Duchamp on the editorial team. It was an international effort to maintain and
promote the principles of Surrealism during a time when much of Europe was under Nazi occupation, and many Surrealist artists and intellectuals were in exile or facing significant
hardship. The title VVV was chosen for its symbolic nature, being a reversal of the letter W, which was often associated with war and violence, contrasting with Surrealism's focus on
the unconscious, freedom, and transformation. The magazine was an avant-garde publication, VVV not only concentrated on visual art (including painting, photography, and sculpture) but also covered literature, poetry, and critical essays. It was one of the few places where Surrealists could maintain and
articulate their collective ideas, even as their movement was fragmented and scattered due to the war.
The cover art and illustrations of VVV were as crucial as the written content, sparking conversation with their striking imagery. The covers feature Max Ernst for issue 1, Marcel Duchamp for issue 2-3, and Roberto Matta for issue 4, showcasing their surreal and experimental styles iconic and provocative. For the first issue, Ernst conceived a flowing
design of symbols of nature and logic intertwined with the VVV logo. Marcel Duchamp's cover of the second issue features a warrior riding a horse, whose belly is depicted as the
earth, possibly suggesting a commentary on global destruction. His back cover artwork, showing a die-cut woman's profile behind chicken wire, was designed for the Twin-Touch- Test, inviting readers to share an "unusual feeling of touch" with VVV. For the 4th issue, Matta selected an aggressive image of an open mouth with full teeth, provoking readers into various interpretations.
The journal published works by some of the most influential figures of the time, including André Breton (the founder of Surrealism), Roger Caillois, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Aimé Césaire, Robert Motherwell, and many others. Photographs by artists like Irving Penn and Man Ray often accompanied the texts, adding a further layer of Surrealist intrigue and abstract aesthetics to the journal.
Complete and in good condition - Despite the fragile condition of the covers, which showing discoloration, scratches, and other defects, the integrity of the journal remains intact, including the rare original chicken wire on Duchamp's work on the back cover of the double issue 2/3. (Inventory #: N - 2025 - 23)
promote the principles of Surrealism during a time when much of Europe was under Nazi occupation, and many Surrealist artists and intellectuals were in exile or facing significant
hardship. The title VVV was chosen for its symbolic nature, being a reversal of the letter W, which was often associated with war and violence, contrasting with Surrealism's focus on
the unconscious, freedom, and transformation. The magazine was an avant-garde publication, VVV not only concentrated on visual art (including painting, photography, and sculpture) but also covered literature, poetry, and critical essays. It was one of the few places where Surrealists could maintain and
articulate their collective ideas, even as their movement was fragmented and scattered due to the war.
The cover art and illustrations of VVV were as crucial as the written content, sparking conversation with their striking imagery. The covers feature Max Ernst for issue 1, Marcel Duchamp for issue 2-3, and Roberto Matta for issue 4, showcasing their surreal and experimental styles iconic and provocative. For the first issue, Ernst conceived a flowing
design of symbols of nature and logic intertwined with the VVV logo. Marcel Duchamp's cover of the second issue features a warrior riding a horse, whose belly is depicted as the
earth, possibly suggesting a commentary on global destruction. His back cover artwork, showing a die-cut woman's profile behind chicken wire, was designed for the Twin-Touch- Test, inviting readers to share an "unusual feeling of touch" with VVV. For the 4th issue, Matta selected an aggressive image of an open mouth with full teeth, provoking readers into various interpretations.
The journal published works by some of the most influential figures of the time, including André Breton (the founder of Surrealism), Roger Caillois, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Aimé Césaire, Robert Motherwell, and many others. Photographs by artists like Irving Penn and Man Ray often accompanied the texts, adding a further layer of Surrealist intrigue and abstract aesthetics to the journal.
Complete and in good condition - Despite the fragile condition of the covers, which showing discoloration, scratches, and other defects, the integrity of the journal remains intact, including the rare original chicken wire on Duchamp's work on the back cover of the double issue 2/3. (Inventory #: N - 2025 - 23)
(703) 476-2199
