Etel Adnan

Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Beirut
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 2010

Conditon This work is in very good condition. Some minor abrasions to the book cover. Colour The colours in the catalogue illustration are accurate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Over the course of the 1960s, Adnan left her abstract landscapes behind and in 1964 moved onto the leporellos - accordion-folded sketchbooks in which she combined often abstract drawings with the written word. In her leporellos as in her earlier landscapes, Adnan’s work is characterised by a deep understanding of colour, shadow and shape. In her later works, she moves from exclusively natural landscapes to a combination of the natural and the urban, while always remaining on the edge of abstraction. Artist’s Book is a rare and intimate work by Adnan comprising a range of ink wells that symbolise her love of writing, almost as if they are part of a “silent” vocabulary without words; their intensity and meaning felt solely through deceptively simple imagery.

With Artist's Book, Adnan strived to explore the relationship between Western poetry and Eastern tradition. These books possess an interesting and visual dynamic as they move like accordions. They speak to her experience of interpreting a piece of poetry through the windows of circumstances that shaped her perception.