Albert Skira

During the 1930s Skira opened an office in Paris and the publishing house became a meeting place for important artistic figures of the time.

In 1933, Skira contacted André Breton about a new journal, which he planned to be the most luxurious art and literary review the Surrealists had seen, featuring a slick format with many color illustrations.

In addition to Minotaure Skira published several volumes of literature and poetry in the 1930s, both classic and contemporary, that prominently featured original prints by major artists of the time including: Les Métamorphoses by Ovid, illustrated with 30 original engravings by Pablo Picasso in 1931;[3] Poésies by Stéphane Mallarmé, with 29 etchings by Henri Matisse in 1932;[4] Les Chants de Maldoror by Isidore Lucien Ducasse [also known as the Comte de Lautréamont] with 43 etchings by Salvador Dalí published in 1934.

After World War II Albert Skira planned and directed the publication of several ambitious series or, book collections, on the subject of painting and art history.

Skira was considered a Red Flag name for his involvement in Nazi-looted art during the German occupation of France during World War II.