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Collection 1950s–1970s

421

Rosemarie Trockel’s Book Drafts

Fall 2019–Summer 2020

MoMA

Rosemarie Trockel. Holy Mary from Book Drafts. 1978. Ink and colored pencil on seven pieces of paper, page (each): 6 1/8 × 4 1/8" (15.6 × 10.5 cm). Anonymous gift. © 2019 Rosemarie Trockel/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/VG Bild-Kunst, Germany
  • MoMA, Floor 4, 421 The David Geffen Galleries

Since the 1970s, Trockel has produced more than 150 “book drafts.” Never intended to be realized, these design sketches have become central to her practice as exercises for working through creative impasses. The act of designing a book cover appeals to her in these moments; its standardized design and structure allows Trockel to forgo certain compositional decisions and proceed directly to the playful juxtaposition of text and image. The results vary in tone, but often reflect the artist’s irreverent sense of humor.

Organized by Christian Rattemeyer, Harvey S. Shipley Miller Associate Curator, with Danielle Johnson, former Curatorial Assistant, and Ana Torok, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Drawings and Prints.

2 works online

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