SIC. Sons. Idées. Couleurs. Formes. No. 1. (Janvier 1916). - No. 53 / 54. (Décembre 1919). (All Published)
Sic. Birot, Pierre-Albert (Directeur)
Paris. SIC, 37 rue de la Tombe-Issoire. janvier 1916–décembre 1919
The scarce complete series of the influential avant garde review SIC.
Founded by the poet, painter, sculptor, publisher and typographer Pierre Albert-Birot (1876 - 1967) in 1916, SIC, with its focus on the avant garde was one of the most influential literary, musical and artistic periodicals of the period. From issue number two, Albert-Birot was aided by Gino Severini and in issue number 4, Apollinaire makes his first - but by no means his last - appearance with the poem 'L'avenir'; Apollinaire continued to contribute until his death in 1918 and the triple issue 37 / 38 / 39 was 'composé en mémoire de Guillaume Apollinaire'. Of particular note is the fact that SIC sought to represent the whole of the avant garde and promoted Cubism, Futurism, dada, with Tzara contributing regularly, as well as contributions from Breton, Aragon and others who would develop Surrealism.
The main contributors were: Apollinaire,Cocteau, Cendrars, de Drieu, Roch Grey (Hélène d'Oettingen), Léonard Pieux (the same), Paul Dermée, Raymond Radiguet, La Rochelle, Max Jacob, Tzara, Albert-Birot, Aragon, Breton, Picabia, Soupault, Paul Reverdy, and André Salmon. Poems, art essays and literature with woodcuts and illustrations by Chana Orloff, Gino Severini, Boussingault, Balla, Depero, Prampolini, Survage, Picabia, Picasso, Matisse, Serge Férat, Ossip Zadkine, Irène Lagut, and others.
Also included, inserted loose, are the notes of a previous owner, 'Collection compète de la revue Sic / contenant entre autres ... &c.'. Written in black ink on the verso of sections of a letter (four copied sections of the same letter) from the Librairie Berger, the notes detail the work of various contributors, i.e. 'APOLLINAIRE l'Avenir no. 4' including Apollinaiire, Aragon, Breton, Tzara, Radiguet, Soupault, Reverdy, Cocteau, Drieu la Rochelle and Gino Severini; a compliment slip with the logo and address of 'Editions 'SIC' / 26 rue du départ / à Paris' is also present.
'I had absolutely no intention that my review should be a demolition exercise, the war was looking after destruction, I believed on the contrary that the times demanded that one should only think of constructing and more especially that, from the point of view of art, when you bring forward new tendencies obsolete ideas disappear of their own accord.' (Pierre-Albert Birot).
[Le Fonds Paul Destribats 65; Ades I.36].
Founded by the poet, painter, sculptor, publisher and typographer Pierre Albert-Birot (1876 - 1967) in 1916, SIC, with its focus on the avant garde was one of the most influential literary, musical and artistic periodicals of the period. From issue number two, Albert-Birot was aided by Gino Severini and in issue number 4, Apollinaire makes his first - but by no means his last - appearance with the poem 'L'avenir'; Apollinaire continued to contribute until his death in 1918 and the triple issue 37 / 38 / 39 was 'composé en mémoire de Guillaume Apollinaire'. Of particular note is the fact that SIC sought to represent the whole of the avant garde and promoted Cubism, Futurism, dada, with Tzara contributing regularly, as well as contributions from Breton, Aragon and others who would develop Surrealism.
The main contributors were: Apollinaire,Cocteau, Cendrars, de Drieu, Roch Grey (Hélène d'Oettingen), Léonard Pieux (the same), Paul Dermée, Raymond Radiguet, La Rochelle, Max Jacob, Tzara, Albert-Birot, Aragon, Breton, Picabia, Soupault, Paul Reverdy, and André Salmon. Poems, art essays and literature with woodcuts and illustrations by Chana Orloff, Gino Severini, Boussingault, Balla, Depero, Prampolini, Survage, Picabia, Picasso, Matisse, Serge Férat, Ossip Zadkine, Irène Lagut, and others.
Also included, inserted loose, are the notes of a previous owner, 'Collection compète de la revue Sic / contenant entre autres ... &c.'. Written in black ink on the verso of sections of a letter (four copied sections of the same letter) from the Librairie Berger, the notes detail the work of various contributors, i.e. 'APOLLINAIRE l'Avenir no. 4' including Apollinaiire, Aragon, Breton, Tzara, Radiguet, Soupault, Reverdy, Cocteau, Drieu la Rochelle and Gino Severini; a compliment slip with the logo and address of 'Editions 'SIC' / 26 rue du départ / à Paris' is also present.
'I had absolutely no intention that my review should be a demolition exercise, the war was looking after destruction, I believed on the contrary that the times demanded that one should only think of constructing and more especially that, from the point of view of art, when you bring forward new tendencies obsolete ideas disappear of their own accord.' (Pierre-Albert Birot).
[Le Fonds Paul Destribats 65; Ades I.36].
54 issues in 40 vols. 4to. (282 x 225 mm). Single issues with four pages, double numbers of eight pages and triple numbers of twelve pages (the memorial issue for Apollinaire is thirty-two pages): printed text and illustration throughout, with the hors texte plate with pochoir colour 'Tapis de Martine' by Alice Rutty in issue 7. Original publisher's printed wrappers, stapled or loose as issued, with Albert-Birot's device 'SIC' to covers where applicable in black or bistre, issues 26 - 34 with 'SIC' replaced with a reproduction of a work of art, the issues inserted loose into two pockets of a later hand-decorated patterned paper-covered and lined board protective folding box with title labels to front board and spine, additional notes loose in additional marbled paper envelope, grey silk-covered slipcase.
#48721
