Strict Beauty: Sol LeWitt Prints

A comprehensive survey of Sol LeWitt's printmaking practice, including thousands of lithographs, silkscreens, etchings, aquatints, woodcuts, and linocuts, is presented in this book. It explores how print media fit into LeWitt's conceptual art, highlighting the importance of the "idea becomes the machine that makes the art." With over 400 illustrations, the book offers a deeper understanding of LeWitt's output and the genealogy of his distinct geometric and linear formal language.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2020
Publisher: Yale University Press

The renowned conceptual artist Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) is celebrated for his programmatic wall drawings and modular structures, but his artistic output extends far beyond these iconic works. In fact, LeWitt created over 350 print projects, comprising thousands of lithographs, silkscreens, etchings, aquatints, woodcuts, and linocuts. This comprehensive and richly illustrated volume is the first to delve into LeWitt's significant yet understudied printmaking practice. Through a combination of new archival research, insightful interviews, and meticulous material and visual analyses, David S. Areford masterfully situates LeWitt's prints within the broader context of his serial, system, and rule-based approach to artmaking. Areford argues that the specific processes of print media were perfectly suited for LeWitt's conceptual art, where the "idea becomes the machine that makes the art."

This study is accompanied by over 400 illustrations, many of which are published for the first time, providing a more complete picture of LeWitt's oeuvre and the pivotal role that printmaking plays in it. The result of this research will not only enhance our understanding of the diverse range of LeWitt's output but also shed light on the genealogy of his distinctive geometric and linear formal language.

Published in association with the Williams College Museum of Art and the New Britain Museum of American Art, this exhibition schedule offers a chance to witness LeWitt's prints in two prestigious venues. The New Britain Museum of American Art will host the exhibition from September 18, 2021, to January 9, 2022, while the Williams College Museum of Art will showcase the prints from February 18 to June 12, 2022.

In conclusion, Sol LeWitt's printmaking practice is a testament to his boundless creativity and his innovative approach to artmaking. This comprehensive volume, through its extensive illustrations and insightful analysis, offers a deep appreciation of LeWitt's printmaking achievements and their profound impact on the art world.

Weight: 1544g
Dimension: 227 x 265 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300253825