Like many people in the 1940s, Marcel Vertès was both fascinated and rather puzzled by the growing interest in psychotherapy, especially of the Freudian persuasion, among the professional classes. Complexes is his visual commentary on the phenomenon, featuring wise practitioners displaying their certificates and clients exhibiting their deepest anxieties – including the classic ‘what happened to my clothes’ scenario.

The introduction is by Vertès‘ long-time friend, the writer and social commentator Pierre Mac Orlan, and the text by his art critic colleague and publisher André Sauret.

Complexes was published André Sauret Editions du Livre, Monte-Carlo, in a limited numbered edition of 890 copies.