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Laure: From Muse to Subject in New Cahiers Publication

publication · 2026-04-24

The French publishing house Les Cahiers has released a new volume dedicated to Laure (Colette Peignot), the writer and muse of Georges Bataille and Michel Leiris. Edited by Jean-Sébastien Gallaire, the book includes unpublished texts, a CD of readings by Michèle Matthis with music by Jean-Marc Foussat, and twelve photographs from Jean-Luc Froissart's archives. Contributors grapple with the paradox of writing about an author who denied being a writer, aiming to liberate Laure from her status as object and establish her as a subject. The volume is part of a series that has previously covered Leiris (three volumes, a fourth forthcoming in 2014) and Bataille (one volume), with an Artaud volume planned for 2013. Laure died of tuberculosis at age 35.

Key facts

  • Les Cahiers published a volume on Laure (Colette Peignot).
  • The volume is edited by Jean-Sébastien Gallaire.
  • It includes eight texts, a CD, and twelve photographs.
  • The CD features readings by Michèle Matthis and music by Jean-Marc Foussat.
  • Photographs come from Jean-Luc Froissart's archives.
  • Previous volumes covered Leiris (three volumes) and Bataille (one volume).
  • A fourth Leiris volume is due in 2014, an Artaud volume in 2013.
  • Laure died of tuberculosis at age 35.

Entities

Artists

  • Laure
  • Colette Peignot
  • Georges Bataille
  • Michel Leiris
  • Aldo Marroni
  • Patrick Tillard
  • Marcel Moré
  • Boris Souvarine
  • Margot Brink
  • Jean Paulhan
  • Michèle Matthis
  • Jean-Marc Foussat
  • Jean-Luc Froissart
  • Jérôme Peignot

Institutions

  • Les Cahiers
  • éditions Jean-Jacques Pauvert

Sources