"The little tinker only eat snails, all the time": Gaston Chaissac's daughter's dream of a tinker

Chaissac, Gaston, French painter (1910-1964). Autograph letter signed ("g. chaissac").

N. p.

4to. 2 pp.

 4,500.00

To the Parisian gallerist Jean Larcarde, announcing a "sample of prose" by his daughter that is written on the reverse in Chaissac's hand. Verso, Chaissac writes a long and digressive introduction, explaining that his wife taught their daughter how to write, following the example of Chaissac's sister, who had an important role in his education and "took the trouble to destroy in" Chaissac "the defective or local pronunciation" and influenced his taste in reading. He then talks about his sister's marriage into "a family of 'local-minded semi-idlers'", describing her husband as "the equivalent to the hats" that his sister "had worn in her youth" and alluding to conflicts with her mother-in-law and the unhappiness of her husband.

The equally curious story attributed to his daughter Annie Gaston-Chaissac tells of a dream of "The little chimney sweeper" who turns out to be a tinker (French: rétamour instead of ramoneur). The tinker sets up shop "in an unpacking crate", taking what other people throw out, "only eats snails". In the end he receives "a jug and 1000 francs" and happily buys a "real wagon".

Traces of folds. Somewhat creased.

Stock Code: BN#31483 Tag: