Dreams of Desire 30 (Ink Blots)

Valentine Hugo-Illustration for Alternance 1946

The foremost illustrator of Paul Eluard, Valentine Hugo was active in the Surrealist movement in the early thirties. Primarily a book illustrator she produced illustrations for several writer beloved by the Surrealists, notably Lautreamont’s Les Chants de Maldoror, Arthur Rimbaud and the Marquis De Sade’s Eugenie de Franvel.

Above is one of her graceful dotted drawings which also incorporates elements found in Exquisite Corpses; several of the best examples from the Golden Age of Surrealism feature Valentine as a collaborator.