Item #68702 Art international, Vol. III:1/2, 1959, through Vol. X:10, Dec. 1966. James Fitzsimmons, ed.
Art international, Vol. III:1/2, 1959, through Vol. X:10, Dec. 1966
Art international, Vol. III:1/2, 1959, through Vol. X:10, Dec. 1966
Art international, Vol. III:1/2, 1959, through Vol. X:10, Dec. 1966

Art international, Vol. III:1/2, 1959, through Vol. X:10, Dec. 1966

Zürich [later Lugano, Switzerland]: James Fitzsimmons, 1956-1984. An unbroken run of 72 very early issues (80 numbers + 3 duplicates) of this superb periodical, partially bound somewhat irregularly in three half-leather and red cloth volumes plus separate copies in the original covers, See below for details. Approx. 35 x 25 cm (bindings). **James Fitzsimmons jumped the gun on the coverage of modern art with this beautifully printed periodical and its exceptional selection of illustrations and texts by leading curators and critics. The first two volumes, in a small format, were hardly more than barely illustrated calendars of events, though the roster of essayists and reviewers suggested greater things (Volume I was called European Art This Month). With volume III it more than doubled its page size and increased its production values by 1000%, with excellent illustrations surpassing anything in the US. Art in America experimented between 1958 and 1962 with a hardbound design but gave it up in favor of a slick design and ordinary production. The explosion in cultural interests that began at the end of the Fifties produced new mseums and libraries plus improvements in nearly all art periodicals. These developments reached one early apex wtih the June 1962 publication of Artforum, which soon came to dominate the development of late-20th-century American art, despite its smaller circulation than other, more popular art magazines. Art International continued to be one of the classiest of all these publications. Fitzsimmons was an American expatriate born in China who championed American and European art equally. Vol. III: 1/2, the initial issue in the enlarged format, features a cover by Jean Dubuffet, a long review of Pittsburgh's Carnegie International by William S. Rubin, an article by Lawrence Alloway on Le Corbusier, a long article on Robert Motherwell by E.C. Goossen, and much else. Vol. IV:1, has a cover in metallic silver by the 23-year-old Frank Stella and articles on younger American painters by Alloway (including Rauschenberg, Johns, Joan Mitchell, Frankenthaler, Noland, Morris Louis, and Ellsworth Kelly), plus others on Ernst, Clyfford Still, and Surrealism. Vol. IV:4 has a cover by Franz Kline and a 22-page triplet of articles by Georges Mathieu on "the new convergence of art, thought and science." And so on. The set has been fully collated. The bound volumes include all covers. The bindings have some wear and a few stains but are sturdy and well made; the third volume has some separation at the top of the front joint. The scans are covers by Bridget Riley, Robert Motherwell, Vera Haller, and the front of the first bound volume. Binding details: **Vol. III, nos. 1/2-10 (1959, 7 issues all in original covers; no. 7 lacks pp. 79/80). **First bound volume: duplicate III, nos. 1/2 + Vol. IV, nos. 1 & 4-10 (1960, 8 issues). **Vol. IV, nos. 2/3 (separate issue). **Second bound volume: Vol. V:, nos. 1-9 (1961, 8 issues), **Third bound volume: Vol. V, no. 10 (Christmas, 1961) + Vol. VI, nos. 2-10 (1962, 8 issues) + duplicate VII, nos. 1 & 2. **Vol. VI, no. 1 (Feb., 1962, separate issue). **Vol. VII, nos. 1-10 (1963, 10 separate issues). **Vol VIII, nos. 1-10 (1964, 9 separate issues). **Vol. IX, nos. 1-10 (1965, 9 separate issues). **Vol. X, nos. 1-10 (1966, 10 separate issues). 72 issues & 3 duplicates. Extra postage on this heavy set weighing over 80 lbs. packed. Sale price through 31 December 2022 (was $950). Item #68702

Price: $720.00

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