The Lulu Plays Frank Wedekind

DESCRIPTION: Large quarto measuring 13.5H x 10W inches (341 x 260 mm). Limited edition - No. 328 of 400 copies, numbered and signed by the artist. Illustrated with 67 drawings by William Kentridge. The types are Perpetua and Gil Sans in Monotype composition with handset Perpetua, Claudius and Neuland for display, printed in black and red on Hahnemühle Biblio paper. Binding in fine grey cloth with black titles, housed in a matching grey cloth slipcase with an abstract black wraparound Kentridge illustration. Includes a custom clear archival Grafix Dura Lar dust wrapper._____CONDITION: Book and slipcase are in very fine ("as new") condition._____DISCUSSION: The Lulu Plays form the basis of the silent film classic 'Pandora's Box and Alban Berg's opera 'Lulu'. It is a work which can be thought of as a precursor to German Expressionism which began in the 1910's. The red and black text and the Gil Sans type beautifully capture the cold, lurid nature of these sex stories. This edition is a livre d'artiste book, richly illustrated with 67 illustrations by William Kentridge bound into the book. Kentridge is an internationally known South African artist, printmaker and filmmaker. His collage-style black and white illustrations have a jarring, stark appearance very much in keeping with the Expressionist feel of Wedekind's plays. This edition was one of the Arion Press's most ambitious projects, one of the last great Arion Press books published by founder and proprietor Andrew Hoyem three years prior to his retirement._____NOTE: This is a large heavy book and international shipping cost is $75 U.S. dollars.