Sims Reed Rare Books×

Geh durch den Spiegel. (Go Through the Mirror). Folge 1 - Folge 48. (All Published)

Various Artists

Cologne. Galerie Der Spiegel. 1954–1966
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An excellent complete set of the innovative and exceedingly well-curated catalogue / bulletins of the Galerie Der Spiegel.

Each of the Galerie Der Spiegel catalogues were issued as 'Geh durch den Spiegel' with original graphics and text relating to the specific artist(s), and chosen by them. The result is a mélange of livre d'artiste, artist book, monograph and exhibition catalogue, including poems, related documentation, original graphics, reproductions of works and so on, all presented on a mixture of paper stocks with varying typography, mise en page, binding and to a lesser extent, format.

Together the issues - Folge 30 and Folge 43 were never published - present a fascinating overview not only of contemporary art of the period but also literature, attracting contributions from many writers (including Heinrich Boll and Albrecht Fabri). Each issue was limited to between 100 - 400 copies.

The artists represented span European abstract painting, dada, Surrealism, Op Art, COBRA, Tachism et al, with single issues devoted to Max Ernst, Hans Arp, Wols, Karel Appel, Ben Nicholson, HAP Grieshaber, Marino Marini, Victor Vasarely, Horst Antes, Dorothea Tanning, Karl Gerstner, Serge Poliakoff, Ernst Wilhelm Nay and François Morellet among others. The Arp / Ernst collaborative number and that devoted to 'English Graphics' are the sole issues not devoted to a single artist.

Given the other high quality publishing projects of the Galerie der Spiegel such as Edition MAT (Karl Gerstner and Daniel Spoerri) with its multiple publications, the Spiegelschriften and Edition Portfolio, it is little surprise to find similar innovation here.

Complete sets of Geh durch den Spiegel are scarce and we can locate no such series in institutions. This set, assembled by a German collector as the issues were published, and with his occasional notes in pencil (in particular the separate graphics are annotated as to Folge number), is also with additional original graphics - the majority proofs or pulls aside from those issued in the series - all unfolded and uncut on large paper.

A full list of the issues and the specific artists represented is available on request.
46 vols. Folio. (c.380 x 260 mm). Printed text and illustration in colour and monochrome throughout with original graphics in various media all on various paper stocks. Original decorative printed card boards or card wrappers as issued.
#46525

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