La Septième Investigation (Proposition 8)
Kosuth, Joseph
Paris. Galerie Daniel Templon. 1970
A Kosuth artist book, part of Kosuth's series 'First Investigations.'
From the edition limited to 40 copies, each with rubberstamp of the gallery and number to the verso of the final leaf.
This publication was part of Kosuth's series First Investigations (subtitled Art as Idea as Idea), which he began in 1966. The series was comprised of photocopies of dictionary definitions and other texts; in it he sought to demonstrate that 'art' is not located in the art object, but in the idea or concept of the work.
By 1970, Kosuth's series had progressed to the Seventh Investigation, which was comprised of a series of 'propositions'. This proposition, 'Proposition 8', was created for a show at Galerie Daniel Templon in Paris from November to December 1970, where this limited edition booklet was dispersed across several desks in the gallery space. The text, entirely in French, is composed of excerpts from unattributed texts about WWII (the French Resistance, the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, the siege of Stalingrad, etc.) and a final page which is an alpha-numeric schematic, seemingly related to the book's interior structure.
From the edition limited to 40 copies, each with rubberstamp of the gallery and number to the verso of the final leaf.
This publication was part of Kosuth's series First Investigations (subtitled Art as Idea as Idea), which he began in 1966. The series was comprised of photocopies of dictionary definitions and other texts; in it he sought to demonstrate that 'art' is not located in the art object, but in the idea or concept of the work.
By 1970, Kosuth's series had progressed to the Seventh Investigation, which was comprised of a series of 'propositions'. This proposition, 'Proposition 8', was created for a show at Galerie Daniel Templon in Paris from November to December 1970, where this limited edition booklet was dispersed across several desks in the gallery space. The text, entirely in French, is composed of excerpts from unattributed texts about WWII (the French Resistance, the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, the siege of Stalingrad, etc.) and a final page which is an alpha-numeric schematic, seemingly related to the book's interior structure.
[15 leaves]. 4to. (27 x 21 cm). Leaf with title and credits and 14 leaves with text, all photocopies of typescript recto only, limitation and stamp to final leaf verso. Stapled as issued, held in protective folder with clear plastic cover.
#43451
