16 Bilitis dziesmas = 16 Les Chansons de Bilitis (16 Songs of Bilitis) [Illustrated Album]

  • 1,300€
  • Product Code:95
  • Availability:In Stock

Near Fine condition; restored spine, cover shows slight rubbing, small creases across cover corners; internally owner's inscription on the fly-leaf, occasional fingerprints on the bottom outer corners of the pages. The "Songs..

Tags: rare books, first edition books, Latvian avant-garde, constructivism, cubism, futurism, Sigismunds Vidbergs

Near Fine condition; restored spine, cover shows slight rubbing, small creases across cover corners; internally owner's inscription on the fly-leaf, occasional fingerprints on the bottom outer corners of the pages. 


The "Songs of Bilitis" is a collection of erotic, essentially lesbian, poetry by Frenchman Pierre Louys published in Paris in 1894. In 1928 a small selection of only 16 pieces from the collection were translated into Latvian by Janis Sudrabkalns. The selection was published as an art edition with exquisite graphics by Sigisnunds Vidbergs. Strictly limited edition of only 550 copies were numbered and signed by artist for each beneficiary (beneficiaries full list is included at the end of the book). Present copy is unnumbered and unsigned, presumably subscription-based publication was not bought out.


The poems about lesbian love written in ancient Greek stylistic. According to the theme, artist created illustrations depicting young naked women, wearing vintage accessories on the ancient Greek vases, jars, plates and their fragments. Each song featuring an illustration, so book contains 16 full-paged plates and frontispiece, in total 17 illustrations. In this work Vidbergs achieved a great interaction between text and image, masterfully showing worldview of ancient Greeks inherent in the flesh and spirit dwelling in harmony. Art Nouveau style drawings created with indian ink techniques is amazing expression of comprehensive sensuality, love, carnal, erotic, which brought a new image of modern woman into Latvian art and life. By this graphic cycle artist made a breakthrough in Eastern European art finding a new way of graphical expression, but at the same time was strongly criticized by society.


Sigismunds Vidbergs (1890-1970) the most notable representative of Art Deco graphic art, one of the most original Latvian artists of the 20th century whose creative legacy is characterised by its versatility. He has created in the field of easel and applied graphics, painting on porcelain, book and magazine illustrations and commercial drawings. In his works, technique of drawing with Indian ink dominates. The artist addressed a wide range of subjects: historical and contemporary motifs, urban and rural life, religious scenes, portraits, studies of architecture and nature. However, Vidbergs is best known in the general panorama of Latvian art for his elegant interpretations of erotic motifs, retaining a classical sense of measure even when addressing very risqué themes. Signed by Author.

Title 16 Bilitis dziesmas = 16 Les Chansons de Bilitis (16 Songs of Bilitis)
Author Pjers Luiss = Pierre Louys / no Francu valodas tulkojis J. Sudrabkalns = traduites du Francais par J. Sudrabkalns (translation from French by Janis Sudrabkalns)
Artist illustrejis S. Vidbergs = illustrees par S. Vidbergs (illustrated by Sigismunds Vidbergs)
Publisher ARS, Riga
Published year 1928
Country Latvia
Edition 1st edition
Binding Soft cover
Octavo 19 x 24 cm
Weight 0.300 kg
No. of pages Wrappers, 80 pp
Print run 550 copies
Language Latvian & French