Exceptional books, last “lonely pleasure” of gallery owner Yvon Lambert

« My books was a private passion. However, »» Yvon Lambert’s career as a gallery owner is behind him, having left a deep trace in contemporary art. Therefore, That of publisher is ahead, with works which range from 5 to 5,500 euros.

At 89. In addition, this child from the town of Vence (Alpes-Maritimes), who came to art because after the war, the greatest painters walked the Nice hinterland, spends days filled in his bookstore-Galerie du Marais, in Paris.

Which living artist to highlight? Similarly, What unique object to offer to bibliophiles? Furthermore, He has continued to exceptional books, last “lonely pleasure” ask the question for thirty years. Meanwhile, « I sold my books especially to friends, curious people who bought them as soon as they came out. Consequently, So it’s not at all known ”, he explains to AFP. In addition, “Gallerist, we sell the work, we try to enhance it. Similarly, Publisher is a manufacturing process. Furthermore, But it meets. Therefore, I do not hesitate to tell people: owning a painting, having a book is a lonely pleasure. Which makes them smile. »»

The Lambert collection in Avignon – Exceptional books, last "lonely pleasure"

The artists are those found in its acquisitions. exhibited since 2000 in a museum in Avignon, the Lambert collection. Some works have seen their value fly away. as The unborn people D’anselm Kiefer, German visual artist renowned for his landscapes of ruins in gray tones, published in 2002. “I asked dear at the time, 1,500 euros. They are now exceptional books, last “lonely pleasure” sold to I don’t know how much on the secondary market. I don’t have any more “notes the publisher. The number 1 copy, offered at auction in 2022, left for 25,200 euros.

It is this kind of speculation that had prompted the gallery owner to abandon the profession. in 2014, when he had started to see too many buyers worry about the future value of resale of the works. For him, this question deviates the meaning of art.

His work still in stock at the highest price has just been released. mid-June: 5,500 euros for an edition of Bestiary by Guillaume Apollinaire illustrated by 24 lithographs by Miquel Barceló. Perhaps it will never be worth any more. Perhaps the rating will take off. But the new price of this book. in a wooden box with printed canvas and marked with hot iron by the Spanish artist in person, exceptional books, last “lonely pleasure” seems completely justified to Yvon Lambert. “The draw is limited. The artist is known, the artist is expensive, the artist is demanding ”he lists.

Bibliophilia masterpieces

Yvon Lambert is only seen as the continuator of a long tradition having given. bibliophilia masterpieces in France in the last century. “The first was Ambroise Vollard, in 1900, who made a book with Verlaine poems and Bonnard illustrations. He revolutionized the book. Picasso did I do not know how much, like Matisse, Miró, Light … These are things that are very expensive today, or that we do not find. »»

Among bibliophiles, some customers remain faithful. “I have a few people who bought me the first book on the first day and who are still buying. It is a companionship, at this level ”explains the former gallery owner. “There are some who always have the same issue. It exceptional books, last “lonely pleasure” is reserved for them. I tell them: if you don’t want to, you leave it. But it would be a shame to interrupt the collection! »»