Before Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) published Le Dépeupleur in 1970 (translated by the author as The Lost Ones in 1971), he gave the opening paragraph to the French artist Jean Deyrolle (1911-1967), to make a fine press artists’ book. Deyrolle completed 32 drawings before his unfortunate death in 1967, leaving the project unfinished.

Beckett selected five of the drawings, which were etched by Louis Maccard and published in a small, unbound volume joining the images with the text. This is number 48 of 150 numbered copies on grand vélin paper signed by Beckett (with the facsimile signature of Deyrolle).

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989 ), Séjour (Paris: G.R. [Georges Richar], 1970). Etchings by Louis Maccard after drawings by Jean Deyrolle. Graphic Arts Collection 2014- in process

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) and Antonio Martorell, Oda a la Lagartija (Campo Rico de Canóvanas: P.R. Martorell, 1974). “150 ejemplares firmados y numerados por el grabador además de 15 pruebas de artista numeradas en romano, todas [sic] impresos … con grabados y caligrafiados individualmente; se comenzó a imprimir el 1° de diciembre de 1973 …” Graphic Arts Collection Copy 76 of 150.

De noche
allí el silencio
es un profundo lago
del que salen
sumergidas
presencias,
cabelleras
de musgos
y de lianas,
ojos
antiguos
con
luz
de turquesa,
cenicientos lagartos olvidados,
anchas mujeres locamente muertas,
guerreros
deslumbradores,
ritos
araucanos.
(exert from Neruda’s poem)

Carol Rosen, The Holocaust Series XXI, We All Disappear (Califon, N.J.: C. Rosen, [2004]). Graphic Arts Collection 2014- in process

The artist wrote, “There is no way to recreate the events or the severe psychological destructiveness of the Holocaust experience by those who were not its victims. One can only approximate the truth by implying the isolation, state of fear, uncertainty, and disorientation which were their constant companions. The ‘truth’ of the images in these prints depends on creating a narrative situation or one which attempts to mirror the psychological state of mind.” Here are a few images.

Maro Vandorou, Persefóneia. Translation by Nadine Fiedler ([Eugene, Ore.: Lone Goose Press, 2012]). Graphic Arts Collection GAX 2014- in process

Persefóneia is a limited edition book of original artwork in platinotypes and poems. The conceptual focus is on transformation and the intriguing shift of roles held in balance by Persephone’s archetypes: maiden-wife, queen of the underworld, daughter, and co-initiator to the Eleusinian mysteries. The second part of a trilogy, following Vertical Time, an installation of platinum prints and a film of images and echoes, Persefóneia deepens and completes the study and visual exploration of transformation.

The video component of Persefόneia involves images projected on silk within echoes of the spoken words of poems. The artist writes “The images and poems reference an irrevocable process of transformation. Photographic material from the Oracle of the Dead, an archeological site 500 miles from Athens. Greece. Mythologically, the site is known as the ruling seat of Hades and Persephone of the Underworld.”

See the video filmed at Murdoch Collections Gallery, in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. http://youtu.be/cZ2rgzsc0cs

Suzanne Moore, Zero: Cypher of Infinity (Vashon Island, WA: Moore, 2014). Artist’s book, one of a series of 50, the first 5 of which are deluxe with additional hand-lettered pages. Bound by the artist with custom-dyed Cave Paper. Copy 13 of 50. Graphic Arts Collection GAX 2014- in process

“Suzanne Moore started investigating the complex history of the simple digit, “0” in two earlier commissioned artist’s books, Zero, Faces of the Void (2007), and Zero: Cypher of Infinity (2009). She is investigating concepts and controversy around Zero. The text presents questions that explore the complex history and eternal mystery of the void taken from science, philosophy, calculation, and symbology. The book is accomplished with original painting, drawing, silkscreen, wood and metal type and polymer plate letterpress printing, embossing, gold foil and 23k gold leaf, all by noted artist and calligrapher, Suzanne Moore with the assistance of Jessica Spring of Springtide Press who collaborated in the of production for this extraordinary book, printing the text letterpress and much else.”– Prospective.

We have been waiting for nearly five months for this tour de force printing to be completed and happily, opened the package yesterday. Texts include Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Rainer Maria Rilke, Wassily Kandinsky, Gregory Orr, Isaac Newton, and many others. Could not wait to share a few openings.

The 2013 publishing and exhibition project Mayakovsky—Manifesto marked the 120th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky (1893-1930). Produced by the State V.V. Mayakovsky Museum and curator Mikhail Karasik, the exhibit was presented at the PROUN gallery in the Vinzavod Centre for Contemporary Art (Moscow) from December 2013 to January 2014.

After the show closed, the exhibition was editioned and mounted in large orange boxes holding the 13 works by 13 artists, each a personal homage to Mayakovsky. The project has a print-run of 27 numbered copies (boxes) signed by the artists and Princeton has acquired no. 17. The artists include Stas Bags, Alexander Djikia, Mikhail Karasik, Grigory Katsnelson, Alexander Lavrentyev, Kira Matissen, Ilya Obukhov, Alexei Parygin, Mikhail Pogarsky, Victor Remishevsky, Dmitry Sayenko, Taras Sgibnev, and Vasily Vlasov.

The project website states, “Mikhail Karasik, a St Petersburg artist, graphic designer and book expert, has been a popularizer of this genre for the past quarter century and the present action is a logical continuation of the large-scale project that he carried out a decade ago: in 2003, the authorial publishing house Kharmsizdat produced four striking box books: Russian Dada, Oberiu Box, Literary Constructivism, and The Leningrad Literary Underground.”

Mikhail Karasik and Andrei Rossomakhin, Mayakovsky-Manifesto (Moscow: Timofei Markov, 2013). 1 case (13 works) Contents: 1. Stand up / Stas Bags. Accordion book, 10 leaves — 2. Twosome / Alexander Djikia. 2 sheets in cover — 3. Mayakovsky ticket / Mikhail Karasik. 11 leaves in cover — 4. Shackled by film / Grigory Katsnelson. 18 sheets in cover — 5. Mayakovsky : calling cards / Alexander Lavrentyev. 10 leaves in a folder — 6. Rezche cherez / Kira Matissen. 3 newspapers in a folder — 7. V. Mayakovsky : a cloud in trousers / Ilya Obukhov. 16 pages in a cover — 8. V. Mayakovsky : night / Alexei Parygin. 6 leaves in a cover — 9. Beyond the Rosta windows / Mikhail Pogarsky. 12 pages in a cover — 10. Mayakovsky : 150000000 ; Mayakovsky : the bathhouse / Victor Remishevsky. Installation and object — 11. Sanitary book / Dimitry Sayenko. 16 pages in cover — 12. A face of our time / Taras Sgibnev. 12 pages in a cover — 13. The heart of cinema ; How are you? / Vasily Vlasov. 2 posters. Copy 17 of 27. Graphic Arts Collection GAX 2014- in process

A specialist on the art of Leonardo, Jean Paul Richter (1847-1937) completed a translation and examination of the artist’s notebooks entitled Literary Works of Leonardo in 1883. Chapter 3 of volume 1 presents six books on the effects of light and shade, which are now available in full text online (III. Six Books on Light and Shade).

In response to these chapters, the contemporary artist Judith Rothchild created six intaglio prints, using mezzotint with rocker, roulette and, dry point additions. These were matched with text set by Mark Lintott in Vendome Romain and printed by him on an Albion press. Lintott bound the entire set in wrappers and a slipcase covered with handmade papers screenprinted by Rothchild.

Leonardo da Vinci, Of Light and Shade from the Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci…as compiled, translated, and edited by Jean Paul Richter. Intaglio prints by Judith Rothchild ([Octon, France]: Verdigris Press, 2009). Copy 9 of 15. Graphic Arts Collection GAX 2014- in process.

118. Of Light. “The lights which may illuminate opaque bodies are of four kinds. These are: diffused light as that of the atmosphere, within our horizon. And Direct, as that of the sun, or of a window or door or other opening. The third is Reflected light; and there is a fourth, which is that which passes through [semi] transparent bodies, as linen or paper or the like, but not transparent like glass, or crystal, or other diaphanous bodies, which produce the same effect as though nothing intervened between the shaded object and the light that falls upon it; and this we will discuss fully in our discourse.” http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/dv/

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), The Literary Works of Leonardo da Vinci, compiled and edited from the original manuscripts, by Jean Paul Richter … (London: S. Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1883). Marquand Library Oversize ND1130 .L56q

Mary Jo Bang and Ken Botnick, B is for Beckett (St. Louis, Mo.: Emdash, 2012). Letterpress printed artist book, bound in the notched perfect method with hand-stamped lead front cover and spine of handmade, hand-dyed flax by Cave Paper in Minneapolis. 89 p. Copy 10 of 10. Graphic Arts Collection GAX 2014- in process.

“This is the second collaboration between poet Mary Jo Bang and book artist Ken Botnick, this time publishing a one-line poem by Bang originally published in her collection, Elegy for E. Both projects have employed an unusual and complex printing method which involves moving the type in the bed of the press after each impression, in effect, the type “walks” off the page. When the book is closed the type reads clearly on the edge surfaces of the book as if printed direcctly on the edges themselves. The book is meant to be shown, and stored, on its side.”—prospectus.