LETTRES A UNE JEUNE PEINTRE. BALTHUS.

First Edition. Wraps. 8vo. pp 32 ( 4 loose gatherings each of 8) One of 650: this copy unnumbered. Unillustrated. French text.Grey printed card wrappers, printed in black; pages uncut, loosely inserted. After the war, Rilke had a long-term relationship with Baladine Klossowska, mother of the Philosopher and artist Pierre Klossowski, and the younger Balthus, who’s artistic development the poet took charge of whilst sending the older Pierre to work as a secretary to Andre Gide. Printed by Michael Caine, this is the first edition of these letters concerning the publication of the young painters first book, Mitsou: a set of relief prints telling the story of his lost cat; the poet arranged the publication given the age of the artist. About fine.