Secrets de la jungle (Jungle Ways)
<p>Originally published as a travel journal detailing American explorer William B. Seabrook’s sensationalized encounters with African tribes and their rituals, this binding is a beautiful example of Mary Reynolds’ craftsmanship. Reynolds layered snakeskin, most likely from a boa constrictor, between the earthy cover and the Moroccan leather book casing. The contrast between the smoothness of the cover and the scaly snakeskin serves as a tactile metaphor for Seabrook’s narrative. The binding’s design evokes the camouflaging effect of snakeskin amidst foliage. Camouflage and other types of animal mimicry—an animal’s unconscious ability to visually blend in with their environment—inspired Surrealist artists because of its eerie trickery of the human eye. The most surprising detail of Reynolds' binding may be the subtle curl on the very bottom of the spine, as if a small reptile in relief has slithered across the book and disappeared into the pages, its tail protruding as a leather embellishment. This small projection sits perfectly where a finger could absentmindedly trace the curve. Within the pages of the book is a brief inscription from Seabrook to Reynolds, showing how gifts between friends often inspired Reynolds’ creativity.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1931
- Dimensions
- 19 × 13 × 2.5 cm (7 1/2 × 5 1/8 × 1 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Artist
- Mary Reynolds
Artist
Textile
Mary Reynolds was an American artist and bookbinder active in Paris during the mid-twentieth century. Working primarily in hand-bound volumes and paper arts, she developed a distinctive practice that merged fine art with the craft tradition of bookbinding. Her work bridged Surrealist circles and the material culture of the book object itself. This profile will be expanded as more verified source material becomes available.
Full artist profile →More
More by Mary Reynolds
Saint Glinglin: précédé d'une nouvelle version de Gueule de Pierre et des Temps mêlés: Roman (Saint Glinglin: Preceded by a New Version of Stone Mouth and Mingled Time)
1949 · Full green morocco binding; horizontal onlay across covers and spine; broken china teacup handle attached by onlay to spine; title stamped in gold on front cover; author stamped in gold on back cover; marbled endpapers; original paper covers bound in
Exercices de style
1947 · Quarter black calfskin binding with marbled paper; calfskin label on cover with title stamped in gold; author stamped in gold on spine; top edge colored; marbled endpapers; original paper covers bound in
Le Diable au corps: Roman
1947 · Chêneuarter vellum binding with green paper; morocco spine label with author and title stamped in gold; decorated endpapers; original paper covers bound in
Le Foyer des artistes
1947 · One-quarter vellum binding, sides covered with red paper speckled with gold stars; original paper covers bound in
Le surmâle: Roman moderne (Superman: A Modern Novel)
1945 · Full black morocco binding with onlay; metal corset stay attached to spine; title stamped in gold on spine; mauve endpapers printed with wire-mesh pattern; original paper covers bound in
Loin de Rueil (Skin of Dreams)
1944 · Full red morocco binding with raised bands; author and title stamped in gold on spine; endpapers of trial proofs for Marcel Duchamp's 1935 cover of Minotaure; original paper covers bound in
Record
Verified by Watts Index- Artist
- Mary Reynolds
- Year
- 1931
- Dimensions
- 19 × 13 × 2.5 cm (7 1/2 × 5 1/8 × 1 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1931-047732
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified