E. L. T. Mesens 1903-1971

Galleria Schwarz, Milan
Galerie Isy Brachot, Bruxelles

Executed on card. The card is taped to the overmount at the upper edge only. Other than a 2cm. crease running sinuously along the right edge, another one running from the upper edge, two 1cm. creases (inherent to the artist technique) to the thumb of the hand, this work is in very good condition.
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The poet has not too much of his half-head, of his one sex, of his two noses, of his three eyes, of his four ears, of his five legs, etc... to stand THIS EARTH, to CATCH floating musicS, to drill with his sight the path through the forests of Reality, to smell a rat, to conquer the PASSING beauty, and to blend one hazy sensation with several clear perceptions.
LIVING with intensity does not deliver forcibly the KEY-line. This key-line TO BE, achieving the poem. The poet - DISQUITENED and PATIENT - spends hours and days in waiting rooms...
But my two hands remain. Two hands, ten fingers, well cared for. It is BECAUSE of them I make collages.

E.L.T. MESENS
(Extrait du catalogue d'exposition 3 collagists à l'Institut of Contemporary Arts, Londres, novembre 1958).

signed 'Mesens', numbered '19' and dated '1960' lower left; signed 'E.L.T. Mesens', titled 'le Fou du Roy', inscribed 'Fait à London',  numbered '19' and dated '1960' on the back, collage and watercolour on cardboard. Executed in 1960.