Research Catalog

Title

Libro illeggibile N.Y. 1 / Bruno Munari.

Author

Munari, Bruno

Publication

• New York, New York : Museum of Modern Art, [1967]
• Milan : Lucini.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.), publisher.
• Lucini (Firm), printer.

Description

20 unnumbered leaves : images, cutouts; 22 cm

Summary

In a single gathering consisting of 4 leaves of alternating black and gray paper at beginning and end, surrounding a central section of 12 leaves of translucent paper. Each of the 8 gray and black leaves bears a screenprinted white spiral design and a circular cutout (last leaf has cutout only); some translucent leaves are blank, some bear a screenprinted black circle on recto, which form a horizontal line of 5 circles when viewed through the block of translucent leaves. There are 12 screenprinted designs in all. Beginning with the third translucent leaf, a red thread passes through each leaf in an irregular pattern and is secured at the end to the outside of the spine of the wrappers.

Subjects

• Cut-paper works
• Spirals in art
• Circle in art
• Artists' books > United States > 20th century

Genre/Form

• Artists' books – United States – 20th century.
• Cut-paper works.

Note

• Title, name of artist and imprint information from book jacket.
• "This is a unique book designed by Bruno Munari especially for the Museum of Modern Art. It is one of a group of books in which the visual discourse, rather than a text comprised of words, carries the thread of the story. The 'unreadable' book was first conceived by Munari in 1949, and exhibited the same year at the Salto Bookshop in Milan. A small number of copies were handmade by the author. A presentation edition of 2000 copies of one unreadable book ... was published in 1953 by Steendrukkerij de Jong & Company. In 1955 several unreadable books were shown ... in the exhibition 'Two graphic designers' at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 1957 they were awarded a Gold Medal at the Triennale di Milano. Nine volumes are now in the Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art"--Colophon, on back flap of book jacket.

Indexed In (note)

• Castleman, R. Century of artists books

Language (note)

• Colophon on book jacket in Italian and English; book is without linguistic content.

Binding (note)

• Issued in black wrappers, bound with 2 staples, in a glossy laminated red paper book jacket with additional screenprinted white spiral and black circle design on front cover.

Call Number

Spencer Coll. Amer. 1967 13-83

OCLC

5052299

Author

Munari, Bruno, artist.

Title

Libro illeggibile N.Y. 1 / Bruno Munari.

Publisher

New York, New York : Museum of Modern Art, [1967]

Manufacturer

Milan : Lucini.

Type of Content

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Local Note

Spencer Coll. copy is no. 59 of an edition of approximately 2000 copies (number inscribed in white ink on verso of last leaf, which is of black paper).

Indexed In:

Castleman, R. Century of artists books, p. 224

Language

Colophon on book jacket in Italian and English; book is without linguistic content.

Binding

Issued in black wrappers, bound with 2 staples, in a glossy laminated red paper book jacket with additional screenprinted white spiral and black circle design on front cover.

Place of Publication

United States New York (State) New York.

Italy Milan.

Added Author

Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.), publisher.

Lucini (Firm), printer.

Research Call Number

Spencer Coll. Amer. 1967 13-83