Various Artists

Galerie René Block, Berlin

Collection Helmut Anton und Margot Krätz, Frankfurt, Germany (acquired from the above in 1972)

Private collection, Hesse, Germany

"The future belongs to multiples", said gallerist and Fluxus-Pioneer[1] René Block (born 1942), famously known for shaping the European art world since the 1960s. Block’s 1964 opened gallery in Berlin set the foundation for his collaboration with Fluxus- associated artists including Wolf Vostell, Joseph Beuys, KP Brehmer, KH Hödicke, Sigmar Polke, Blinky Palermo, Konrad Lueg and others. Two years later, in 1966, the Edition Block was created as an instrument for the “democratization and socialization of the art market”. Offering originals at reasonable costs, as well as distributing artistic statements that reflected on the state of art and key issues in contemporary thought, was in line with Block's mission to integrate contemporary art into society. René Block addressed the issue of the "original" with his own confident sense of significant developments in the concept of art and with his edition offered artists a platform where they could implement and convey their ideas. Along with Edition MAT, Multiples Inc., New York, and Milan-based Edition del Deposito, Edition Block is one of the earliest publishers of limited-edition objects and prints by contemporary international artists. Therefore, René Block can be seen as a synonym for editions and multiple art.

The first Edition Block editions were published in 1966 and included, among others, Joseph Beuys’ ... mit Braunkreuz, a linen boxed set containing a drawing, a felt cross, cut in half, and two texts. At first Joseph Beuys had little interest in the idea of making limited edition objects. This quickly changed, however, when he realized the distribution and reach potential multiples provided, as they gave him a way to deepen his relationship with the owners of the works and influence how they were received. "Evervess II 1" was Beuys's first multiple, released in 1968 as part of a series of 40 pieces with Edition Block, demonstrating his fascination in multiplied art.

The idea of bringing together several artists for a joint edition was pursued in the present work En bloc (1969–72), today often regarded as a miniature museum. The castor-based wooden container boasts with 14 drawers containing objects made by 19 renowned German artists. Block offered the artists to either create an entire drawer, or alternatively place objects into the drawer together with others. En bloc, with an edition of 20, is a striking testimony to West German post-war art uniting all the gallery's important positions.

[1] Kurator und Museumsdirektor Rene Block wird 80 Jahre alt - Kultur - SZ.de (sueddeutsche.de)