A French Proposal...

I'll write in any language…. just tell me the words!

Old French Book Pages

Works by Madame A Daudet & poems by Anatole France landed in my hands a while ago. They were a matching pair from the same publisher…. both with delightful drawings next to the title pages.

I love the way the publishing date is written; 

the twenty fifth of march eighteen hundred and ninety two. 

The typeface also, is beautiful… so elegant...

and the texture of the paper…. a delight to hold & turn the pages, 

despite the water damage & broken spines

It's many years since I attempted to speak french, but I could understand some tantalising 

glimpses of text, such as " the light smile through the dark shadow", 

that could be a delight to express calligraphically.

...n'oublie pas, ceux que vous en fait chercher longtemps ou que l'on n'a pas bien compris. On dirait que le mystere ou ils etaient enveloppes les imprisonne tout au fond de la memoire, comme un cocon impenetrable et fragile brise seulement a son heure par l'aile vivante et ouverte de l'idee enfin éveillée.

…don't forget that those you have long searched for or don't understand. 

Then something about the mystery that is imprisoned deep within the memory, like an impenetrable cocoon that a gentle breeze will awaken when the time is right, and the idea will take flight…

[or something along those lines… anyone is welcome to give a better translation, lol]

I do find myself reading the french & gradually taking in more of the sense of the words rather than a direct translation. It will be great to eventually create some pieces of work from these.

What the Postman Brought!

They're old & battered...

...they have broken spines & their covers are stained.

They are literally falling apart with loose & missing pages....

But just look at the colours & textures of the pages in these old french books...

*swoon*

They will be finding their way into the shop after I have had time to savour them a while... most likely packed as bundles of vintage french book pages. If anyone would like a book or two just give me a shout!

These however, have been in my hands for a while...

I am now offering mixed packs of old french dictionary pages 

& pages from a french literature school study book.

 I thought the combination of words with studies of authors 

& poets would complement each other.

You can find them over here