Early to Mid 20th Cent Original Oil on Canvas Painting by Raymonde Aynard (1910-1965)

Raymonde Aynard (1910–1965) was a painter, illustrator, and poet born in Paris. She exhibited portraits at the *Nationale* in 1927 and at the *Tuileries* in 1933; a war-themed work at the *Indépendants* in 1945; a piece at the *Prise de Terre* exhibition on February 15, 1948; and an abstract work at the *Salon de Mai* in 1950. As a book illustrator, she worked on *Genèse* by Maistre de Sacy for Éditions du Raisin (1928) and illustrated a poetry booklet written by her sister (a scientist), as well as two of her own collections: *Traversées* (featuring lithographs by Édouard Pignon) and *Vers luisants* (containing two illustrations—one by Dominguez and one by herself). She participated in the founding meeting of the Revolutionary Surrealist group on July 12, 1947, and subsequently attended the conference of Communist artists in Antwerp on November 2, 1947, alongside Noël Arnaud, Christian Dotremont, and Ernest Bourgoignie. She was featured in the first issue of *Cobra* in 1949. It was Dotremont who informed Bourgoignie of her death. A reproduction of one of her works appeared in the first and only issue of the journal *Le Surréalisme révolutionnaire*. (Raymonde Aynard: letters to Édouard Jaguer, 1947–1948). To fund the journal *Le Surréalisme révolutionnaire*, she lent 40,000 francs to the French group on February 25, 1948—a “model gesture,” according to Jaguer. The costs associated with the journal and the International Bureau of Revolutionary Surrealism were shared equally among the three constituent groups: French, Belgian, and Czech. Through this loan, Raymonde covered the majority of the French group’s financial needs (which totaled 54,500 francs). • Édouard Jaguer approached the collective on February 12, 1948, to arrange the repayment of Raymonde Aynard. Following the meeting on April 17, the group members unanimously decided to “individually cover the Aynard debt”—comprising 15 shares of 2,666.00 francs. As the loan repayment was not settled by the agreed deadline of late February 1948, it was postponed to October 10.”The interest—amounting to 400 F per month—was, for its part, to be paid off as soon as possible using proceeds from bookstore sales of the *Revue* (see financial report attached to the financial statement and report file). • On May 5, Arnaud, Jaguer, and Passeron met at Aynard’s home to propose a repayment solution (see ‘Follow-up to the crumbs of a postscript’ by René Passeron, June 28, 1948). • By May 31, 1948, the interest payment had still not been settled; Noël Arnaud wrote to her (typed draft) to reassure her: ‘There are at least three comrades working on the *Revue*—one might say every day… and consequently on your repayment.’ Jaguer followed up with the debtors one by one (see typed note and note to Mélik). • Letter from Arnaud to Jaguer, September 13, 1948, 2 pp. quarto, on *Surréalisme éditions de la main à plume* letterhead. The situation remained unchanged as of September 13, 1948, and she was worried about it. She was due to be repaid on October 10, 1948; letter from Jaguer in early October. Arnaud asked Jaguer to ‘reassure her as much as possible, and in any case tell her how much the debt is—alas—on our minds.’ She lent another 30,000 F on August 18, 1949. • Letter from Arnaud to Jaguer, August 18, 1949, 1 p. quarto. ‘She handed me a check for 30,000 francs, which I used to clear one of the objects through customs.'” The accounts break down as follows: – withdrawal of one of the diamonds: 28,000 francs – payment of interest on the total: 2,400; grand total: 30,400… She is heartbroken because Jorn left his wife and his 24 children to run off with someone other than her—Raymonde.” The correspondence.

Raymonde Aynard belonged to the Aynard family, owners of the Abbey of Fontenay in the Côte-d’Or. She was the daughter of Raymond Aynard and Marthe Garin. Raymond Aynard was the son of Mathieu Aynard—an embassy secretary—and Rose Pauline de Montgolfier (the couple married in Marmagne, near Fontenay, in the Côte-d’Or). Raymonde Aynard was the artist of the family (there is always one…). She died childless at the age of 55. She had close ties to the Surrealists. Her watercolors possess astonishing power and beauty. She was only 19 years old when this volume was sumptuously printed in a very limited edition by Darantière.