Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror

DE KOONING, Willem; Ashbery, John; AVEDON, Richard

Publication Date: 1984

About this Item

DE KOONING, Willem. Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror. By John Ashbery. Containing an original signed photograph by Richard Avedon, and seven original, signed prints by: Elaine de Kooning, Willem de Kooning, Jim Dine, Jane Freilicher, Alex Katz, R.B. Kitaj and Larry Rivers. With a recording of Ashbery reading his poem. Prints and record housed in a stainless steel Hollywood movie canister with a convex mirror on the lid. San Francisco: Arion Press, 1984. Limited to 150 copies. John Ashbery's Pulitzer prize-winning poem is presented in this creative format by the Arion Press, text and illustrations laid in a stainless-steel "Hollywood" movie canister with convex mirror on the lid. The cover mirror provides a self-portrait of the beholder in the manner of Parmigianino's painted portrait with elongated features. Designed as a tribute to Ashbery, his poem is accompanied by signed prints from his artist-friends, united within a circular format. Each artist created images inspired by the poem; also included is a reproduction of the famous self-portrait by Parmigianino that originally inspired Ashbery to compose the poem. The prints are in various media, including lithography, etching, and woodcut. The text is printed in handset type radiating from a circular hub like spokes in a wheel. Along with the record of Ashbery reading the poem, there is a new foreword to the poem written by the poet. The foreword is signed by Ashbery and each original print bears the particular artist's signature. Fine copy. Now very scarce. Johnson, Artists' Books in the Modern Era 1870-2000, No173. Arion Press Check List 13.

Seller Inventory # 172971

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror
• Publication Date: 1984
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)