Artist (1891-1931) best known for his cartoons and caricatures of actors and other celebrities. Though his work was heavily in demand through the 1920s and is often considered to epitomize the era, his personal life was troubled by mental illness, and he was nearly forgotten soon after his suicide, shortly before his fortieth birthday. A collection of seven letters, all signed “Ralph,” consisting of five TLSs, including two multi-page letters; a four-page (on two adjoining sheets) ALS, and a postcard. The ALS is dated April 6, 1926, with the other letters dated with the day and month only, or undated.All letters are to Roland Young. Most of the letters are written while working and living in France, with the postcard telling of a trip to Spain, and the ALS writen aboard the SS France crossing the Atlantic. One letter mentions Charlie Chaplin, and reads, in part: “Charlie, like me, was having his change of life - his Crisis of Forty Years. I went out to be consoled, and found him in a worse state than I was in. I ended by holding his hand instead of his holding mine…I’m afraid I made the season’s prize ass of myself. The great love that God sent me, profiting by the scandal I managed to kick up, went to bye-bye with every able-bodied male in France and Switzerland with envoys from Italy and South America during my absence - only these foreigners haven’t our respect for womanhood and they came to see me, passing along in an orderly line, to recount their experiences with the lady, the old familiar line, the one I fell for, holding, God damn it, their sides and howling with laughter! You can imagine how foolish I felt.” Another letter, dated June 4, has Barton describing his treatment for gastritis and confesses “I am also impotent, at last. Have piled into bed twice with charming ladies and nothing happened. I confess it freely. Just through with that sort of thing. The kids who used to say ‘one has just so many shots - one takes them when one likes’ were right. I am not joking about this, alas.” In very good overall condition, with folds, creases, and toning. Barton’s last work before his suicide at the age of 39 was that of Charlie Chaplin. A very interesting accounting of Barton’s life, relationships, and work while in France. RRAuction COA.
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