Every Building on the Sunset Strip.

RUSCHA, Ed [Edward].

$6,000.00

Item Number: 93546

Los Angeles: Edward Ruscha, 1966.

First edition, second issue. Small octavo, original stiff self-wrappers, original slipcase. Inscribed by the artist on the title page, “For John Ed Ruscha.” One continuous accordion-fold page composed of glued paper segments with black-and-white photographs of every building on the sunset strip. Fine in a fine slipcase. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example.

In the 1960s, Ed Ruscha more or less reinvented the artist’s book. By turning away from the craftsmanship and luxury status that typified the livre d’artiste in favor of the artistic idea or concept, expressed simply through photographs and text, Ruscha opened the genre to the possibilities of mass-production and distribution. The 27-foot length of the accordion-folded Every Building on the Sunset Strip affords the viewer two continuous photographic views of the mile and a half section of this landmark stretch of Sunset, one for each side of one of the city’s landmark thoroughfare" (The Getty Research Institute). Roth 101; Parr & Badger, Photobook II.