Unica ZÜRN Hans BELLMER / Autographed Letter / Suicide / Psychiatry

  
Signed autograph letter "Bellmer" to Marc Duprat October 1970? Just a few days before the suicide of Unica Zürn, Bellmer tries to reconcile with her through their mutual friend and psychiatrist Marc Duprat. I hope this death doesn't arrive too late! It concerns some clarifications that I would like to give you regarding your intention to write to Unica. Did I give you the address of the friends in Berlin who are the only ones to know Unica's address?

SCHNELL BERLIN-CHARLOTTENBURG 9 STÜLPNAGEL STR. 3 WEST GERMANY Schnell and his wife will only be back in Berlin from October 28th.

1 When writing, try to give the impression that you are writing. 2 Give Unica your personal impression that I (myself, Bellmer) sincerely regret having caused this awful rupture in such a brutal way. That, undoubtedly, if she came back to me, I would welcome her with open arms and tears in my eyes. Obviously her response will be: 'tell that old man to go fuck himself elsewhere.

- but it is about healing her wound a little and it is possible that a passage in the indicated direction can help with that. But let me know with a little note before coming!

And don't come too late if we want to take a walk! A signed autograph letter dictated by Hans Bellmer (pneumatic) announcing to the same the suicide of Unica Zürn the day before. [Paris, October 20, 1970], 1 p. Duprat, I am at Mr. Hans Bellmer's today and through this letter he asks me to announce to you some very sad news.

Indeed, Unica being in Paris since Sunday, she committed suicide on Monday morning by jumping from the 5th floor. You would be so kind as to pass by to see Hans as soon as you can. P/S Bellmer Tuesday at 6pm.' The two artists meet in 1953. German painter and writer, Unica Zürn works alongside her partner Bellmer, poses for him, but already suffers from serious depressive and schizophrenic disorders.

They live together on rue Mouffetard in Paris, but their relationship will be troubled by Unica's mental health problems, as she will make suicide attempts and be interned several times. Growing sicker, Unica is interned three times between 1969 and early 1970 at the psychiatric hospital Maison-blanche in Paris. In April, she writes a breakup letter to Bellmer. Our letter was most likely written a few days before Zürn's suicide. On October 19, 1970, after leaving the clinic where she was interned, she goes to Bellmer's and kills herself by jumping out of the window of her apartment.