The Art of Edward Weston
New York: E. Wehye, 1932. Frontis portrait by Brett Weston. Limited edition. Limited to 550 numbered copies, of which this is 441. Frontis portrait by Brett Weston. Two-toned white and glossy black paper-covered boards, beveled edges. Full text block printed on Artisan enamel paper and printed by Cole-Holmquist. Engravings especially made by the Barnard Engraving Company and printed on Kromekote. The text is Della Robia, binding by Isaac Brothers. 13.75" x 10.5".
Book designed by Merle Armitage. With short essays by Lincoln Steffens, Charles Sheeler, Arthur Millier, Jean Charlot, and Merle Armitage. Includes An Artist Statement by Edward Weston. Boards rubbed in spots, scant foxing front and rear endpapers, marginal loss from facing page contact, perhaps from moisture trapped between pages, resulting in surface pulled to facing page, affecting frontis portrait, a spot on Kelp, and also on Nautilus images. In fine, matching glossy black slipcase, with wear along opening. Item #223605
Colorful cultural impresario and adventurous book designer, Merle Armitage (1893-1975) was a strong supporter and patron of both Westons. A daring California original, whose graphic design work exemplified a distinctive West Coast sensibility, he understood the creative relationship between the photograph and typography, the paper it was printed on, and the binding that defined it. Original and innovative and open to possibility, Armitage's book design expressed the qualities that characterized the work of the Westons. In Brett's book, Armitage's choice of textured paper for the text is juxtaposed with the sharp clarity of the pictures. In EW's book, a costly production made possible by subscription, it's the format and production values that immediately strike one as bold and brilliant to the eye and true to the art.
This first book appearance of Weston's photographs was awarded one of the Best Books of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).
Signed by Weston on the colophon in rare early full signature.
Price: $2,000.00