Johanna Drucker - The Century of Artists' Books

The artist book is arguably the most quintessential artform of the 20th Century.

'Unique means of realizing works within all of the many avant-garde, experimental, and independent groups'

1945 - Artist books had their own practitioners, theorists, critics, innovators and visionaries.

With very few exceptions, the artist book wasn't realised until the 20th Century

The definition of 'artist's book' continues to be highly elusive

Always self-conscious about the structure and meaning of the book as a form.

Early examples of combining text and image

p.4 'Though in general it is the artist's and writer's reputations which sell these books, a rare or unpublished literary text can also be a selling point.' - Refers to Barthes' death of the author theory - Up to the audience to decipher the meaning of the text/reputation of the artist.

Vladamir Lissitzky


p.74
Even the hand-cut early editions of Roth's work seem to quote the methods of die-cutting, to mimic and imitate industrial modes in a manner which reproves and represses the marks of authorship, artistry at the level of markmaking or sculpting.'


p.72
On multiples
Joan Lyons - "Artists books began to proliferate in the sixties and seventies in the prevailing climate of social and political activism. Inexpensive, disposable editions were one manifestation of the dematerialisation of the art object and the new emphasis on process... It was at this time too that a number of artist-controlled alternatives began to develop to provide a forum and venue for many artists denied access to the traditional gallery and museum structure. Independent art publishing was one of these alternatives, and artists' books became a part of the ferment of experimental forms.'

Produces a democratic artform - 'one whose democracy resides in its affordability rather than the accessibility of content' - Drucker
Democracy - the belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves.