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May 6, 1957

Dear Joe,

As I wrote you previously it was my intention to call your attention to my two BRAQUE panels, representing Odysseus and Circe, when strangely enough within the past few days, two visits which in some way have a bearing on these lines, delayed my doing so.

As you will remember, I had the two panels hanging in my gallery, showing them at much better advantage them in my front room where you saw them earlier.

The first visitor I am referring to was Prof. Meyer Shapiro of Columbia, whose first words, seeing those two great works of art were "what elegance". These were exactly the same words curiously enough, used by the second visitor, Mr. Leymarie, who until a short while ago was at the head of the Grenoble Museum, one of the leading museums in France as regards "modern" paintings.

Furthermore, being well acquainted with the evolution of this artist's work, he immediately dated them, 1932, and, without my giving him any encouragement, he went on to explain the importance of these two paintings in view of this period constituting a sort of a turning point in the artist's achievements. Concentrating on archaic Greek and Etruscan art allowed him also to resume his interest in sculpture.

But more than the art historian's point of view, the merit of these panels - which I understand, aside of a decoration he made, are unique - is their esthetic beauty. Without referring again to their supreme elegance, so essentially French, we must recognize their character of delicate wit, in opposing the calm somewhat arrogant representation of a man, to the movement, were we not to call it agitation, of his companion.

Striking are the simplicity of treatment and the parsimony of means which only a very great artist would dare to use, and which enhance their rythmical qualities. They are architectural and sculptural in the maturity of their forms; compositions all in grey, white, and black - a harmony so subtle in the minor key - are hardly to be found at any time unless we go back to the very source of inspiration that caused Braque to carry them out. Far from the obvious and its physical limitations, they leave thus free reign to the imagination - static or vividly kinetic, according to our own moods.

t.s.v.p.

^[[Jos Pulitzer Jr]]