Confessions of a Young Man (1888)

Menu of Jacques-Émile Blanche

Jacques Blanche contributed unsigned cover art for the earliest editions of Confessions of a Young Man (1888). The drawing was entitled La Jeune Fille Symbolique and does not illustrate the text of the book. The artwork was discussed in correspondence between George Moore and the artist in 1887.

Blanche later wrote of it: “La reliure du volume cartonné est la reproduction d’une lithographie que j’avais dessinée pour la Revue indepéndante: une Jjeune fille en jupe de mousseline à pois, un genou sur une chaise de liberty, tend le bras vers un bec de gaz qu’elle allume. Plus vrais emblablement qu’un symbole, il faudrait voir là l’ingénue plaisir de représenter Marie Renard habillée d’une robe de Berthe Morisot” (Mes Modeles, 1928, page 215).

It was exhibited at the Musée de Dieppe’s Blanche/Sickert exhibition (July-September 1954). Present whereabouts unknown.

Undated American edition of George Moore’s Confessions of a Young Man (probably 1888), with Sonnenschein (London) and Brentano (Chicago, New York, Paris)) sharing the title page and Brentano alone on the spine. Cover art by Jacques-Emile Blanche.

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