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[The invitation I received...]

Letter dated 6 February 1947

Correspondence

Author

Author Arpad Mezei
Letter to André Breton
Person cited Marcel Jean

Description

Letter from Árpád Mezei to André Breton, dated Budapest 6 February 1947 and addressed to 42 rue Fontaine. 

It was via the intermediary of Marcel Jean, and following an interview given to Jean Duché for Le Littéraire at the end of 1946, that Breton and the Hungarian Árpád Mezei came into contact in 1947 in relation to questions connected to esotericism. Breton, who at this time was carrying out substantial research on the idea of myth and continued to be interested in magic, was seeking contacts around these themes. [Atelier André Breton website, 2005] 

Typescript letter, dated 6 February 1947. 
1 large in-4° typescript page signed in black pencil ‘Arpad Mezei’ and addressed to André Breton, in which Mezei sends him the outline of an essay for inclusion in the exhibition catalogue for Le surréalisme en 1947: 
‘The invitation I received via the intermediary of our mutual friend Marcel Jean offers me the chance to realise my decision, taken upon reading the interview in which you spoke of re-casting the sciences. I should like to offer you my collaboration in order to realise this project’... 
The envelope has been retained with an annotation in black pencil in Breton’s hand: ‘Mezei Freedom of language’. [Catalogue de la vente, 2003]

The envelope has no stamp or postmark. It was doubtless handed to Breton – perhaps by Marcel Jean? [Atelier André Breton website, 2021]

Bibliography

Arpad Mezei, « Liberté du langage », Le surréalisme en 1947, Paris, Galerie Maeght, pages 59 à 61.

Place of origin

Place of destination

Exhibition place