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for Max

Artist: Wiszniewski, Adrian, RSA · b. 1958Bookbinder: Perstella Ltd.Publisher: Tyson, Matthew · b. 1959Printer, master: Booth-Clibborn, Charles Beville

for Max

Charles Booth-Clibborn founded the Paragon Press in 1986 and it has since published over 120 projects involving some of the most renowned contemporary…

Charles Booth-Clibborn founded the Paragon Press in 1986 and it has since published over 120 projects involving some of the most renowned contemporary artists, who are invited to create a project in the form of a series or portfolio of prints. Many of them have previously had little or no exposure to printmaking.

The first major portfolio involving Scottish artists which the Press published was 'The Scottish Bestiary' in 1986. Wiszniewski was the youngest of the artists invited to contribute and provided three of the images.

The following year Wiszniewski was approached by Booth-Clibborn to create twenty-five linocuts for a limited edition portfolio. The original idea had been to produce a work based on the life of Tristram Tzara and the other Surrealists poets but this was abandoned. Instead Wiszniewski opted to produce a wordless pictorial narrative that told a tale of man finding a strange object in a box and setting out to discover its purpose. He drew directly onto the lino blocks with felt tip pen, completing all the works in a single day.

The work was published in a limited edition of 100 signed and numbered copies. The title ws a dedication to Wiszniewski’s recently born son Max. The published edition has no text. The lino blocks are of identical size and executed in white line. Each block was printed in monochrome but collectively presenting a broad range of bold flat colours across the publication.

The white line technique deployed by Wiszniewski was a direct influence in his broadening his practice by exploring neon tubing as a means of expressive creation.

Hendry pulled the plates at Hega House, London

published under Booth-Clibborn's imprint The Paragon Press

The colophon credits Tyson with binding and production, at Imprints

the colophon credits Pertsella Ltd with the box and slipcase manufacture