Camera Work: A Photographic Quarterly (1914 (Heft 47))

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QUE FAIS TU 291?
J’y seme dit 291 mon coeur est une source au caractere difficile elle se
surmene un poete lui en a donne le livret revetu de la forme humaine mtm
291 arrange ses cheveux sur son front BBiMais impossible de prendre
feu et Tame est gonflee de vie qui remplit toutes les heures d’un soleil ses
yeux ses oreilles predisent une intelligence c’est pourquoi on ne lui apprit ni
metier ni art mais il trouvera sa place dans renchainement sublime ■■
Deux ames et le ciel dans cette ville bruyante elles trouvent moyen de
s’unir parmi cette rumeur de commerce scene mystique mam Pour moi je crois
que la fenetre s’ouvre jusqu’a la perspective tout pres de Fembouchure proxi-
mite de la mer mmm Insouscience des choses materielles ran La verite mais sans
polemiqueB*Jl faut voir en lui une proclamation sans affirmation nuee mati-
nale c’est Funique terrain devant Funivers qui refusera de voir la valeur de
son enseignement mmm Le conservateur “vive la France” “vive la Guerre” le
temps de fumer une cigarette ■™J,ai repondu que je refusais toute discus-
sion B
291 c’est un grand pas de fait qui commence et qui finit d’inepuisable
abondance accoudes a la fenetre des catechumenes nm Si clairvoyant et scrupu-
leux evenement sensationel genereux pour sa clientele qui se coudoie pres-
see dans cet espace restreint warn Comprenons bien la pensee de 291 voila un
fa^on nouvelle de concevoir la vie il aime son metier je suis content de te
voir bob Son prestige montera rapidement jusqu’aux marches du trone et les
services telegraphiques et telephoniques ont ete interrompus en maints en-
droits bes C’est pourquoi il fait de la musique et sa musique est un source
inepuisable b» Le conservateur si tu me rapportes je te donnerai «m II ne le
connait pas il est bon c’est un Dieu je FaimeBB
St. Cloud 17 Juillet 1914. Francis Picabia

WHAT DOEST THOU, 291 ?
There do I sow says 291; my heart is a spring of fastidious disposition; 291 overworks
itself; a poet has written the book and has clad it in human form.
291 arranges the locks on its forehead—but the flames cannot scorch it; its soul is filled
with a life that fills each hour with sunshine; its eyes, its ears announce an intelligence; that
is why it has been taught neither craft nor art, but it will find its place in the sublime sequence.
Two souls and the sky in this clamorous city; they manage to unite in the midst of the
commercial uproar; a mystical communion. For my part, I believe the window opens to the
perspective close to the proximate intermingling of the sea—indifference to concrete matter—*
truth without polemics. We must see in him a proclamation devoid of affirmation, morning dew;
Tis the only place in the Universe which will refuse to see the value of his teaching. The conserv-
ative “Vive la France.” “Vive la Guerre;” time to smoke a cigarette. I answered that I
refused to discuss. 291 is a big step forward which begins and which ends from inexhaustible
abundance, leaning on its elbows at the window of the catechumens. Clear sighted and scrup-
ulous, a sensational event, generous towards his patrons who elbow one another hurriedly in
these small quarters. Let us get a good understanding of the spirit of 291; here is a new way to
conceive life; he enjoys his work; I am glad to see thee. His prestige will ascend rapidly the
steps of the throne and telegraphic and telephonic communications have been interrupted in
many places—that is why he is a musician and his music is an inexhaustible spring—the conserv-
ative “if thou bringest to me I will give to thee.” He knows him not; he is good; he is a
God; I love him.
St. Cloud, July 17, 1914. Francis Picabia

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