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WHAT IS AN ARTIST'S BOOK?

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ROBIN REISENFELD
​Toledo Museum of Art curator, works on paper


​"An oft-debated term, an artists’ book generally refers to the concept of the book as an art object or an artist’s work created in book form. The practice of using the form or function of the “book” as a new art form emerged in the 1950’s, when artists began experimenting with the medium in a number of ways and techniques, from traditional to the experimental.

Unlike the livre d’artiste or Illustrated Artist Book, that inspired it, the artist’s book depends upon the artist for its entire creation, including concept, choice of materials, creation process, layout and design and illustrations --that can vary from hand-made to computer generated and whose quantities range from a unique work to mass produced.

​By contrast, the Illustrated Artist Book, first introduced in France in the late 19th century was a new genre that involved artists of major importance (Picasso, Matisse, Miro, etc.), who were responsible for the production of original works of art (woodcuts, lithographs, etchings, engravings) to accompany texts that were finely printed and bound. Usually, the text and pictorial elements of the book design combine harmoniously and are of equal importance. Livre d’artistes are published in editions of less than three hundred copies, numbered and signed by the artist."​

DEFINITIONS OF ARTISTS' BOOKS

Angela Lorenz

​Journal of Artists' Books

​Printed Matter Incorporated

Smithsonian Library

​Yale University Library

"the books become loose pages... text, forms, and ideas that challenge the rules of institutional art."
DR. THOR J. MEDNICK, assistant professor of art history

Women's Studio Workshop

MAKE YOUR OWN ARTIST'S BOOK

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ADDITIONAL ARTISTS' BOOKS
NOT IN (un)Bound

The Center for Book Arts

​The Museum of Modern Art

Stanford Library

​Syracuse Library
​
​Victoria and Albert Museum
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