Description

Manuscript of a sleeping fit and drawings jotted down by Robert Desnos and with notes by Breton, dated 28 November 1922. The last drawing in this series, marked “Cherchez la clef” [Look for the key], has the interesting feature of alternating different phases of the sleeping fit - from near-consciousness to near-unconsciousness, with illegible graffiti and childish writing, before returning to a state of greater clarity and creativity. In the passage from the question "Where is the blood?" to "that of the naked", the first part of a dialogue seems to have been sketched out. One could imagine an assistant asking: “What blood?” Desnos, given over to his fantasies - death and sexuality, the two major motifs of the unconscious - then returns to lighter and brighter things, his mind galvanised for word-play. Auric, the musician, was one of those with whom Breton attempted to organise the Congrès de Paris (the International Congress to Determine the Directives and Defence of the Modern Spirit) at the beginning of that year. On the first sheet from the session, Auric’s death is foretold by an extra-lucid and hyper-precise Desnos, then his name becomes merely the plaything of puns: "Oh ris cocher des flots / Auric hochet des flots / au ricochet des flots." [Oh laugh mounting the waves, Auric shaking the waves, at the ricochet of the waves.] First period hypnotic sleeping fits 28 November 1922 - 8 pages (21 x 24 cm) with texts, some illustrated with drawings: "Oh ris cocher des flots, Auric hochet des flots, au ricochet des flots."

Creation date	28-nov.-22
Date of publication	1922
Languages	French
Physical description	Ms [4] et Ds [4] - crayon noir
Library	Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet, Paris : BRT 161
Method of acquisition and collection	Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet, Paris, don Aube et Oona Elléouët
Breton Auction, 2003	Lot 2026
Keywords	Graphic Arts, Dream, Automatic Writing
Categories	Manuscripts, Surrealists Manuscripts
Set	[Manuscripts] Sommeils
Permanent link	https://cms.andrebreton.fr/en/work/56600100302270