London
Bushey Heath: (Taurus Press of Willow Dene), ND. Limited Edition. Narrow 12mo. Unpaginated [8 pp.]. Illustrated with four linocuts by Piech. Printed on three sheets of varying colors. Bound in wrappers printed with title linocut on front panel, saddle-stapled. Slight oxidization to exterior side of staples. Bookplate. Of an edition limited to 200 copies, this is number 21, numbered by hand. Very Good. Item #4745 Paul Peter Piech (1920-1996) was born in Brooklyn to Ukrainian parents. Stationed by the US Army in England during WWII, he moved there to pursue a graphic arts career in advertising. In his free time he operated the Taurus Press, finding expression for his liberal voice while perfecting his idiosyncratic design aesthetic. With work marked by pleasantly harsh lines and distinctive, abrasive imagery, Piech owes more to Erich Heckel and Die Brucke than the mushy rainbows-and-unicorns ethos of the hippie era in which he worked. That said, he was just as inclined to print the word “Dicktator” above an image of Richard Nixon; his use of Old Glory, positioned sideways to show the stripes as prison bars, prompted a formal protest, 1979, from the American Embassy in London. The recent revival of interest in Piech’s work has created a steady focus on his oeuvre. He has entered the pantheon of worthy printer-designers of his era.
Price: $50.00