A handwritten notebook containing 39 sketches, 9 signatures, and 5 notes by Constantin Brancusi has just been identified in a private collection in the Netherlands. Preserved by a collector specializing in art from the first half of the 20th century, the object provides unique documentation of the graphic practice of the Romanian artist, who was active in Paris between 1904 and 1957.
Dated between 1908 and 1916, the sketchbook bears the inscription “54 rue du Montparnasse Paris C. Brancusi” on its cover, the address of the sculptor’s studio at the time. The sketches, executed in graphite, colored pencil, and India ink, are mainly found on the reverse side of the pages, which is unusual. Their content, never before published or exhibited, consists of preparatory studies and formal research related to works such as Le Nouveau-né, La Muse endormie, and Le Baiser.
The sketches were identified by a handwriting and document expert working with the courts, based on comparisons with pieces kept at the Centre Pompidou, the Kandinsky Library, and in autographed correspondence.
The notebook has been made available to complement another set of 22 sketches by Brancusi, forming a corpus of 61 sketches. An international scientific committee is being considered to study them in order to decipher, with the highest degree of accuracy, Brancusi’s creative process through his graphic and sculptural research.
The artist’s notebooks are extremely rare: only a few examples are listed in public collections, which gives this collection exceptional status and unparalleled documentary value for the history of modern art.
In the most confidential circles of the art market and patronage, it is said that a dedicated space could soon be created to house this notebook and the accompanying corpus. This structure would offer optimal conditions for conservation and study, while organizing private presentations strictly reserved for a select circle of insiders. It would also become an exclusive point of access for any initiative or acquisition relating to authenticated works by Brancusi, within the framework of scientific expertise procedures recognized for their rigor. An unmissable event for discerning collectors wishing to acquire rare pieces destined to join the most prestigious collections.
Image credit: AFD