In 1976, Joaquim Vital, a Portuguese poet living in exile in France, founded the Éditions de la Différence. The publishing company was sponsored by Patrick Waldberg (an American art historian "of French culture" who specialised in Surrealism), and was soon joined by Colette Lambrichs. Studying its 41 years of existence is like leafing through a first-rate album of literary output, with 2,000 titles revealing numerous foreign talents, particularly from the Maghreb. Without it, would works by the Moroccan writer Abdellatif Lâabi have made their way in France? As the publications were often illustrated, it is also a journey through four decades of artistic creation, with the company monogram designed by André Masson as a speaking example. The sale catalogue creates a powerful impression too, with an alphabetical list ranging from Valerio Adami to Jean-Pierre Zingg, by way of Pierre Alechinsky, Miquel Barcelo, Olivier Debré, Jean Dubuffet, Alecos Fassianos, Niki de Saint Phalle, Julio Pomar (with 76 lots), Sayed Haider Raza, and a host of others. These artists all provided original works, mostly on paper. Among them are four pieces from a series of azulejo panels by Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, including this "abstract composition", estimated at €20,000 to €30,000. The publishing house, which went into liquidation in June last year, is counting on the profits of the sale – perhaps for another.
Print the article