Gaston CHAISSAC (1910-1964). L.A.S. with drawing, March 21, - Lot 323

Gaston CHAISSAC (1910-1964). L.A.S. with drawing, March 21, 1959, to a friend [Robert Michaud?]; 2 pages in-4 (binder holes). Letter about organizing an exhibition, illustrated with a large composition in blue pen. Reminds him of his promise to inform him about customs, and about shipping his painting to Italy. "I had written to Mr. Pagani that without an agent to ship my work, I would confine myself to sending him paintings on consignment, but from his replies it's impossible to know whether he understood me correctly, as he continues to talk to me about my exhibition at his home, and he has never specified the conditions under which it would be held. [...] Galleries sometimes pay for the exhibition and then pay in paintings if it doesn't sell successfully, but I'd rather leave my paintings to my heirs than risk them in attempts to launch the show. Besides, this exhibition would probably be more likely to generate publicity for Ehrmann's book than to bring me sales success. Nor would I want to have to pay for customs duties, even if I could pay for them in paintings. No doubt it's sometimes necessary in life to let yourself be fleeced, but there's a limit to everything. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, and I'm well aware that you can't try to break through and sell successfully without incurring costs, but I'm too much of a believer in my own bad luck that I'd hesitate to even go to the trouble of making a parcel to send the painting to Mr. Pagani. Incidentally, I have often turned down offers to exhibit my work for these very reasons. I'm painting a picture to experiment with a new idea, and I'm going to draw you a picture in that spirit below"... The large drawing of this abstract composition, in blue ballpoint pen, takes up 3/4 of the page.