Un rude hiver: Roman (A Hard Winter: Novel)
<p>This semi-autobiographical novel by Raymond Queneau, set in France during World War I, tells the story of a soldier struggling with the loss of his wife and an injury to his leg. The book focuses on one particular winter when he begins to heal, both physically and emotionally, by meeting other women, although the relationships don’t end well. In the end, the protagonist’s leg heals and he is sent back to the frontlines of war. The story, although hopeful, is not sympathetic to the character’s emotions.</p> <p>In one of her most creative approaches to bookbinding, Mary Reynolds sealed a broken thermometer into the spine. Frozen at 0 degrees Celsius, it evokes the story’s wintry setting and unrelenting conflict. The doublures (inlaid designs on the front and back covers) reflect Queneau’s story as well, mapping the protagonist's grief through color: The front endpaper is blue, a color commonly associated with depression and cold, while the back is red, symbolizing the passionate heat of love.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1939
- 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
- 1939
- Dimensions
- 19 × 13 × 2.5 cm (7 1/2 × 5 1/8 × 1 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1939-047735
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified