The first volume in Wittenborn's important Problems of Contemporary Art series, undertaken in collaboration with Robert Motherwell. Published by Wittenborn and Company in 1945. 8vo (7.5” x 10”), printed wrappers, 65 pages, illustrated in black-and-white. Text by Wolfgang Paalen; cover design and typography by Paul Rand.
Form and Sense gathers Paalen’s writings developed in connection with his influential Mexico-based journal DYN, addressing abstraction, Surrealism, prehistoric and totemic art, Gestalt theory, and the theoretical concerns that helped shape the emerging discourse of postwar American art. An important document of the intellectual exchange between the European avant-garde and the developing New York School. Particularly notable as an early Paul Rand book design: the boldly typographic wrapper dispenses with imagery altogether, organizing the title, series and author's name into a characteristically economical modernist composition. Rear hinge weakened. Minor bumping and rubbing to extremities, with mild soiling to front wrapper. Notwithstanding, a sharp copy and scarce thus.
The first volume in Wittenborn's important Problems of Contemporary Art series, undertaken in collaboration with Robert Motherwell. Published by Wittenborn and Company in 1945. 8vo (7.5” x 10”), printed wrappers, 65 pages, illustrated in black-and-white. Text by Wolfgang Paalen; cover design and typography by Paul Rand.
Form and Sense gathers Paalen’s writings developed in connection with his influential Mexico-based journal DYN, addressing abstraction, Surrealism, prehistoric and totemic art, Gestalt theory, and the theoretical concerns that helped shape the emerging discourse of postwar American art. An important document of the intellectual exchange between the European avant-garde and the developing New York School. Particularly notable as an early Paul Rand book design: the boldly typographic wrapper dispenses with imagery altogether, organizing the title, series and author's name into a characteristically economical modernist composition. Rear hinge weakened. Minor bumping and rubbing to extremities, with mild soiling to front wrapper. Notwithstanding, a sharp copy and scarce thus.
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