Keith Vaughan (1912-1977)

Another visual response to Rimbaud's poem, Conte. In the closing lines of the poem, the character of the Genie is presented: 'Un Génie apparut, d'une beauté ineffable, inavouable même.' ('A Genie appeared of ineffable beauty, undeclarable even.')

Vaughan represents the Genie's abrupt apparition and physical splendour as an assault akin to a forceful punch in the face. A few lines later, Rimbaud states that the Prince and the Genie annihilated each other; Vaughan masterfully communicates the ferocity of their relationship and its dynamic intensity with only a few well-placed strokes of his pencil.
G.H.