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“Books that are produced by artists and intended as visual art objects.”--Library of Congress Genre/Form Headings
“Books, whether unique items or multiples, made or conceived by artists, including commercial
publications (usually in limited editions), as well as unique items formed or arranged by the
artist.”--Getty Research Institute
“An artist’s book is a medium of artistic expression that uses the form or function of “book” as inspiration. It is the artistic initiative seen in the illustration, choice of materials, creation process, layout and design that makes it an art object.” --Anne Evenhaugen, What is an artist’s book? (Unbound (Smithsonian), June 1, 2012).
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Whether or not item does or doesn’t match the above, we will go with catalog according to the artist’s intention: if an artist states that the item is an Artist’s Book, then it is an Artist’s Book.
See also our attempt to further pin these down, below: Artist’s book, Private press, Small press, or Livre d’artiste?
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