VANISHED SPLENDORS: A MEMOIR, as told to Alain Vircondelet

New York: Ecco Press/HarperCollins, 2002. Hardcover. Very Good/Near Fine. Balthus was a 20th century European artist, primarily a painter, whose works were realistic but psychologically introverted, often depicting pubescent girls in erotic and voyeristic poses. His work was known and admired by other European writers and artitists including Andre Breton and Pablo Picasso. This English translation from the French is by Benjamin Ivry, with an introduction by Joyce Carol Oates. First English editon, first printing (as stated, with complete numberline). About 6 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches, 237 pages in pictorial, paper-covered boards, the front cover a portrait of the young Balthus holding a brush, the back showing a drawing of the artist. The end papers show a color photo of a pallette with cans full of brushes in the background. The text is illustrated with b & w and color photos. The boards show only light bumping at the spine ends and to the lower corner of the front cover, o/w boards are without noticeable flaws or damage. The text is clean, complete and unmarked, binding tight and square. Not ex-library, not remaindered. The dustjacket, which repeats the art on the covers with the addition of white lettering on the front panel and a quotation from the book on the back, shows a touch of wear on the edges and spines but no tears, creases, scratches or significant wear. Balthus' work has been described as "alluring but disturbing," and in the U.S. there have been calls and petitions for removal of one of his paintings from the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art though the same work was exhibited in Germany without incident. This may say more about the U.S. and/or Germany than about Balthus' art.