The topic of artists’ books and artists’ publications can be controversial. If one were to ask a room filled with artists, collectors, scholars, critics, and members of the public to define the term "artist’s book" the conversation would quickly turn into a debate. Many think of artists’ publications in the context of early 20th century European "livres de luxe" – those finely produced, limited edition, precious volumes of Picasso, Matisse, and other decidedly European modern masters. Others might describe artists’ books as unique or limited edition craft-objects that formally resemble books, but that are actually closer to sculpture. Still others would place artists’ books at the intersection of fine arts and literature – in either limited or short-run editions – and would cite the collaborations between Max Ernst and Paul Eluard as exemplary. Finally, some might consider monographs or exhibition catalogues as artists’ books or artists’ publications.
Printed Matter’s founders subscribed to the idea of the artist''s book as "artwork for the page," focusing particularly on those publications produced in editions of one hundred or more. They envisioned these publications as democratizing artworks – inexpensive artworks – that could be consumed alongside the more traditional output of paintings, drawings, sculptures or photography. These books were not simply catalogues of pre-existing artworks, but rather works in their own right, "narratives" intended to be seen in a printed, bound, and widely disseminated format.
PRINTED MATTER
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