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The word made flesh / Johanna Drucker

Artist's Book
c1996 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In this facsimile edition of the Druckwerk original letterpress edition (1989) of 'The Word made flesh' Johanna Drucker works in the tradition of the poet-typographer to explore the visual materiality of the text. A single large-scale black letterform dominates each page, the individual letterforms combining on successive leaves to spell out the title of the book. Surrounding each large black letter are smaller black letters in a variety of sizes, patterns and typefaces which can be read, haltingly, as explorations of the nature of language. A simple linear reading of these texts however is impeded by the complex layout of the words and phrases, compounded by the use of individual letters now forming part of one word, now part of another. The backdrop of each page is formed by a grid-like field of small red capitals which, as the dustjacket explains, 'invokes a reference to the carmina figurata of the Renaissance - works in which a sacred image was picked out in red letters against a field of black type so that a holy figure could be seen and meditated on in the process of reading'. Here the process is reversed encouraging the reader to meditate on the process of reading itself.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe word made flesh / Johanna Drucker (published title)
Materials and techniques
Printed book
Brief description
Artist's book, 'The Word made flesh', by Johanna Drucker, New York, 1996
Physical description
This artist's book is a facsimile reprint of an original letterpress edition. Bound in paper boards; hand-printed dust-jacket.

Limited edition of 500 copies.

26 leaves.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28cm
  • Width: 33cm
Summary
In this facsimile edition of the Druckwerk original letterpress edition (1989) of 'The Word made flesh' Johanna Drucker works in the tradition of the poet-typographer to explore the visual materiality of the text. A single large-scale black letterform dominates each page, the individual letterforms combining on successive leaves to spell out the title of the book. Surrounding each large black letter are smaller black letters in a variety of sizes, patterns and typefaces which can be read, haltingly, as explorations of the nature of language. A simple linear reading of these texts however is impeded by the complex layout of the words and phrases, compounded by the use of individual letters now forming part of one word, now part of another. The backdrop of each page is formed by a grid-like field of small red capitals which, as the dustjacket explains, 'invokes a reference to the carmina figurata of the Renaissance - works in which a sacred image was picked out in red letters against a field of black type so that a holy figure could be seen and meditated on in the process of reading'. Here the process is reversed encouraging the reader to meditate on the process of reading itself.
Other number
X980169 - NAL Pressmark
Collection
Library number
38041998102669

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Record createdApril 30, 2014
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