Century Of Artists' Books, The [Paperback]

Johanna Drucker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2004

Now Back in Print Johanna Drucker's The Century of Artists' Books is the seminal full-length study of the development of artists' books as a 20th-century art form. By situating artists' books within the context of mainstream developments in the visual arts, Drucker raises critical and theoretical issues as well as providing a historical overview of the medium. Within its pages, she explores more than two hundred individual books in relation to their structure, form, and conceptualization. This latest edition of the book features a new preface by Drucker and includes an introduction by New York Times senior art critic Holland Cotter. Prior praise for Johanna Drucker's The Century of Artists' Books: "[Drucker] locates the artists' book, in all of its multitudinous aspects, within every significant modern movement and draws on an extensive bibliography of scholarly references to reveal the philosophical and artistic connections among the several emerging avant-garde movements of the early 20th century.... The book vastly expands our understanding of the interdependence of structure and meaning in artists' books."--Buzz Spector, Art Journal "A folded fan, a set of blocks, words embedded in lucite: artists' books are a singular form of imaginative expression. With the insight of the artist and the discernment of the art historian, Drucker details over 200 of these works, relating them to the variety of art movements of the last century and tracing their development in form and concept. This work, one of the first full-length studies available of artists' books, provides both a critical analysis of the structures themselves and a basis for further reflection on the philosophical and conceptual roles they play. From codex to document, from performance to self-image, the world of artists' books is made available to student and teacher, collector and connoisseur. A useful work for all art collections, both public and academic."Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum of Art Library, Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The first full-length analysis of the development of artists' books as a 20th-century art form, this book explores more than 200 titles: their structure, form, and conceptualization. In this detailed examination of the works of many well-known book artists and publishers, such as William Blake, Marcel Duchamp, and Max Ernst, Johanna Drucker discusses the poetics of the book, the book as a metaphor, and books as narrative and non-narrative sequences, as in Ernst's surreal collage books. Covering the historical, theoretical, sociological, and technical aspects of the artist's book, Drucker, a printer, writer, and scholar who has been making artist's books since 1972, presents a comprehensive study of the medium within every significant modern art movement, from early 20th-century avant-garde, dadaism, and surrealism to the present. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A folded fan, a set of blocks, words embedded in lucite: artists' books are a singular form of imaginative expression. With the insight of the artist and the discernment of the art historian, Drucker (The Alphabet Labyrinth, LJ 2/15/95) details over 200 of these works, relating them to the variety of art movements of the last century and tracing their development in form and concept. This work, one of the first full-length studies available of artists' books, provides both a critical analysis of the structures themselves and a basis for further reflection on the philosophical and conceptual roles they play. From codex to document, from performance to self-image, the world of artists' books is made available to student and teacher, collector and connoisseur. A useful work for all art collections, both public and academic.?Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum of Art Lib., New York
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 378 pages
• Publisher: Granary Books; 2nd edition (November 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887123695
• ISBN-13: 978-1887123693
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, August 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Century of Artists' Books (Hardcover)

This excellent book goes over the different styles of artist books. Each chapter is an in-depth look at each style, with plenty of examples. The material is well-organized and easy to read without sacrificing academic rigor. This book has introduced me to the various approaches in making artist books. This book would be good either for the artist book aficionado, the art history student interested in artist books, or the serious book maker.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, yes., January 24, 2001

By 

Dan Waber (Kokomo, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Century of Artists' Books (Hardcover)

A landmark book. Does double duty as a showcase of some of the most incredible books of the century and puts forth some much needed critical groundwork. Johanna Drucker has done the world of book arts a huge service by initiating discussions about the definitions and categories that are necessary to formulate a critical language for this art.

The theory parts are not heavy-handed, but spring naturally from the way she has decided to structure the material for presentation. Not many books are a reference, an inspiration, a sweeping survey, a seed for further criticism, and a flower of criticism in their own right. This one is all that and more.

Your expectations of this book might be quite high if you've been wishing in vain for something like it. Even so, you will not be disappointed, because there is nothing else like it.

When I finished it, I flipped back through the pages once, pressed the covers gently together and whispered to the book, "Well done, Johanna, well done, indeed."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding Collection of Art Book Reflections, June 26, 2006

By 

Jennifer Dick "Jennifer K. Dick" (France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Century Of Artists' Books, The (Paperback)

It is rare enough for art books to be commented on, but to have the opportunity to read commentary on art book making and writing by a poet and old hat at art book typesetting, binding, etc is a great joy. A reference to cherish, and part of a necessary set of works by a fine author who is still underacknowledged for all she is bringing to contemporary book arts today.