Created in 2008 by Laurence Dumaine Calle, les Éditions 591 propose to edit artists’ books and reasoned catalogues.
Why 591?
After having founded the movement Photo-Secession (1902) and the photographic art review Camera Work (1903), up to now never equalled, Alfred Stieglitz, already known for his wonderful photographs and willing to be independent, created his own gallery (1905) in a small place (14m2 !) at the 291 Fifth avenue. At this place, he organised a first exhibition of the Photo-Secession photographers which attracted 15000 visitors and became at once a famous spot. In 1908 Gallery 291 was the first one to present in the US Rodin....The strongest peak of the 291 wasto make discover to the new generation of American artists, the French contemporary art with le Douanier Rousseau, Cézanne, Braque, Picasso, Brancusi, Picabia...
Picabia discovers Gallery 291 on the occasion of the l'Armory Show (1913), which organised for him his first exhibition in New York. In march 1915, Picabia gives drawings to the new 291 review, the existence of which will be short. In 1916 Picabia leaves New York for Barcelona where he meets again some French friends, the entertainments being scarce, he is bored and to fill his leisure activities he creates the 391 Review , adding one unit to the first digit of 291, without even consulting Stieglitz, who later on showed himself delighted by this unexpected relation. The scandal purpose of 391 is deliberate, it shines an important aspect of Picabia?s character. All the Dadaïsts, a few excepted, are collaborating, from Aragon to Tzara, from Man Ray to Marcel Duchamp, without forgetting Arp. In November 1924 is published the 19th and last issue of 391, on the occasion of the ballet Relâche, created with a music by Eric Satie. In 1947, for his retrospective « Fifty years of pleasures » (at René Drouin) , Picabia called the catalogue 491.
As a tribute to Stieglitz et Picabia, it seemed attractive to me to play at my turn with the same numbers in opening the Éditions 591...