(Portrait of Verlaine and friend) - from "Parallelement" by Paul Verlaine

Mariette Lydis

From a small folio of drypoints illustrating "Parallelement", a series of poems regarding erotica and modern morality by Paul Verlaine, published by Georges Guillot. The total edition of 560 impressions was broken down into several numbered series, with different configurations of the prints in both black and white and hand-colored (by Guillot's wife Nadine). This impression came from an edition of 70 on Rives wove paper that included both the suite of 15 hand-colored drypoints published in the regular edition as well as 5 that were not (total 20), and a suite of all 20 of the drypoints wihtout the hand-coloring. The text included in the slipcased portfolio was printed by Joseph Zichieri.

The second figure in this composition remains a mystery. It may represent Arthur Rimbaud, Verlaine's protege and lover for a brief time and who was a source of inspiration for many of his most influential works; or Lucien Letinois, the last known male lover Verlaine had before his death and to whom he dedicated the series "Love" after Letinois' premature death from typhoid.