MASEREEL (Frans). &
ZHAO (Jiabi), introduction.
Mei you zi de gu shi - Mu ke lian huan tu hua gu shi. [A Story without Words - A Story illustrated by Woodblock Engravings].
Inspiring modern printmaking in China
MASEREEL (Frans). &
ZHAO (Jiabi), introduction.
Mei you zi de gu shi - Mu ke lian huan tu hua gu shi. [A Story without Words - A Story illustrated by Woodblock Engravings].
The Chinese translation of Frans Masereel’s Story Without Words by the Belgian artist Frans Masereel (1889-1972). It describes a man’s passionate quest for a woman’s love. He goes to great lengths to impress her but only when he threatens to kill himself she relents and they sleep together. The man promptly regrets his advances and leaves her in tears.
The first edition was published in Geneva in 1920 under the title ‘*Histoire sans paroles’*. The first Chinese edition was printed in 1933 in an edition of 2000 copies, the second edition in 1000 copies. The introduction is by Zhao Jiabi (1908-1997), a translator and publisher in Shanghai, who explains that it was Lu Xun who first advocated the use of ‘creative prints’ as a way to educate the masses. Lu saw Masereel’s work as a prime example of how to effectively get a moral or political message across. It contributed to the development of the ‘Picture Story Book (lianhuahua)’ as well as Modern Print making in China.
Rare. No copy of either of the Chinese editions in OCLC.
