Georges Hugnet

1906 (Paris) – 1974 (Paris)

Hugnet has flown rather under the radar, perhaps because of his multi-disciplinarity. Jacob was his hero as a writer — Hugnet’s downstairs neighbour introduced them. Duchamp, Picasso, Tzara, Man Ray and Cocteau all became friends. Miró knew him and illustrated his work. The expatriate composer Thomson introduced Stein to Hugnet: they collaborated intensively but then argued bitterly. Bellmer was another collaborator; Balthus a witness at his wedding. Tzara introduced him to Breton, who characteristically later expelled him from the Surrealist group for refusing to end his friendship with Éluard. Queneau (acting for the publisher Gallimard) and Picabia were among his correspondents.