A unique bookwork by Gabriele Schmidt-Heins (b. 1949). [50] French-fold leaves, with the lower gutter carefully treated with glue and triangular brown paper triangle adhered to all versos

8vo (212 x 151 mm.), orig. semi-stiff boards (stained), orig. gray tape over spine. N.p.: "Okt. 1977."


One of the Schmidt-Heins twins' archetypal bookworks, in a characteristically modest binding holding 50 folding leaves with an identical motif applied. In this case, on the lower inner corners of the rectos, a diagonal line has been drawn with a thick purple pencil; the versos bear cut-out brown triangles that are precisely placed to mirror the recto lines. The glue employed, likely casein-based, has seeped through the leaves and covers.


"The decision to break away from the individual exclusive sheet, instead: summation as principle. 100 sheets bound into a book also conceived as volume and weight. The resultant change of attitude determines how and with what the sheets are to be processed: search for methods, laying the framework of action. In each case the 100 sheets are to be subjected to the same process. The claim of the single sheet is relativized by hundredfold repetition. Result: conversion of quantity into a new quality...With the principle of repetition, individual aspects of the form and content which would otherwise remain outside the field of observation and investigative interest are stressed and emphasized."


Near fine. Dated on the inside of the lower cover: "Okt. '77."


❧ For other examples of the twins' bookworks from this period see Barbara Schmidt-Heins & Gabriele Schmidt-Heins, eds., Buchwerke: Original-Bücher 1972 bis 1976 (Kunstraum München: 1976).