BOFA, GUS (1883-1968)

NUDE FEMALE. Graphite and watercolor on paper. 39.7x28.4 cm (at sight). (Some foxing). Gus Bofa was undoubtedly one of the most influential illustrators of the first half of the 20th century and remains so today. A renowned poster artist in the 1910s, he was director of the newspapers Le Rire et le Sourire, an influential literary critic for Le Crapouillot, a friend and illustrator of his contemporaries. He narrowly escaped death during the Great War and spent several months in military hospitals, while drawing for the Baïonnette and the press. His first pamphlet book "Chez les toubibs" will be followed by several masterpieces "Malaises", "Synthèses littéraires", "La symphonie de la peur" and an abundant bibliography with illustrations of his contemporaries and the great classics. He created the "Salon de l'Araignée" in 1920, and became the leader of the best illustrators of the inter-war period. His work, regularly republished by Cornelius, allowed him to gain recognition from several generations of major illustrators, including Tardi, Blain, Blutch, Sfar and many others. The works presented here for sale are reproduced in the catalog of the Gus Bofa collection (Michel Lagarde editions, July 2023)