| At the beginning of
1967, J.D. started printing a small volume on S6jour, an unpublished
text that Samuel Beckett entrusted to him the year before. He
had already imagined the presentation and even chosen the typography
(Elzevir Caslon body 20) but he soon fell ill. In May 1967,
during the time of his convalescence at the Hospital Sainte-Anne at
Toulon, he filled two sketchbooks that might be used as illustrations.
Unfortunately, he had not enough time to further his plan, because
he died on July 30 Yet Séjour was published two years
later by Georges Richar according to the
artist's wishes. Once Samuel Beckett had chosen himself between
the 35 drawings achieved at Toulon, the 5 engravings considered were
printed by Louis Maccard. The original edition, limited to 175
copies was sold out. Only the text was published some time later
by Minuit. It forms the first pages of a small volume entitled
Le dépeupleur. |
| "Séjour où
des corps vont cherchant chacun son dépeupleur.
Assez vaste pour permettre de chercher en vain. Assez
restreint pourque toute fuite soit vaine. C'est l'intérieur
d'un cylindre surbaissé ayant cinquante mètres
de pourtour et seize de haut pour l'harmonie. La lumière.
Sa faiblesse. Son jaune. Son omiprésence
comme si les quelque quatre-vingt mille centimètres carrés
de surface totale émettaient chacun sa lueur. Le halètement
qui l'agite. Il s'arrête de loin en loin tel un
souffle sur sa fin. Tous se figent alors. Leur séjour
va peut être finir. Au bout de quelques secondes tout
reprend (…)" |
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