Not Vital

(Swiss, b.1948)

Kiss

1996
Lift-ground aquatint
Edition of 28
Signed, dated, numbered and inscribed in pencil
Plate:  30 x 60 inches (76.2 x 152.4 cm)
Sheet:  34 1/16 x 64 inches (86.5 x 162.6 cm)

Not for sale

Lift-ground aquatint utilizing two lambs coated with lift-ground solution and laid onto a copper plate, with additional painting, a fine, fresh impression of the only known state of what is perhaps the Artist’s finest and most important print edition, the full sheet, printed on white Somerset etching paper, with margins, signed, dated, numbered and inscribed “Kiss” in Chinese in pencil, executed in an edition of only 28 (there were also 5 AP, 3 PP and 1 BAT), printed by Harlan & Weaver, New York, published by Baron/Boisante, New York, in very fine condition, unframed.

Exhibited:

Geneva, Cabinet d’arts graphiques Les Musées d’art et d’histoire, Not Vital: Tanter, 17 January – 13 April 2014 (another example).

New York, Museum of Modern Art, Printin’, 19 February – 14 May 2012 (the Museum’s example).

New York, Museum of Modern Art, Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities, 30 July – 10 November 2008 (the museum’s example).

Lugano, Museo Cantonale d’Arte, Not Vital: Fat Es Fat Druckgrafik und Multiples 1968 – 2002, 22 February – 27 April 2003 (another example).

Kunsthalle Göppingen, Not Vital: Fat Es Fat Druckgrafik und Multiples 1968 – 2002, 08 December 2002 – 02 February 2003 (another example).

Museum zu Allerheiligen, Kunsterverein Schaffausen, Not Vital: Fat Es Fat Druckgrafik und Multiples 1968 – 2002, 15 September – 17 November 2002 (another example).

Naples, Florida, Naples Museum of Art, Hard Pressed: 600 Years of Prints and Process, 17 October 2001 – 06 January 2002 (another example).

Santa Fe, New Mexico, Museum of Fine Arts, Hard Pressed: 600 Years of Prints and Process, 08 June – 09 September 2001 (another example).

Boise, Idaho, Boise Art Museum, Hard Pressed: 600 Years of Prints and Process, 03 March – 06 May 2001 (another example).

New York, AXA Gallery in association with the International Print Center New York, Hard Pressed: 600 Years of Prints and Process, 02 November 2000 – 14 January  2001 (another example).

New York, AXA Gallery in association with IPCNY, Hard Pressed: 600 Years of Prints and Process, 08 December 2000 – 13 January 2001 (another example).

New York, Baron/Boisante Editions, Large Works on Paper, 08 February – 22 March 1997 (another example).

Reference:

Stegmann, Markus. Not Vital: Fat Es Fat Druckgrafik und Multiples 1968 – 2002.  2002, Sturzenegger-Stiftung Schaffhausen, Verlag für Moderne Kunst, Nürnberg, pp.56-57, illustrated (another example) also with catalogue entries, pp.89 and 92.

Literature:

Rümelin, Christian and Alma Zevi.  Not Vital: Tanter, 2014, Bielefeld, Kerber Verlag, p.68, illustrated (another example); with catalogue entry, p.117; also archival photos of the work in progress, p.60.

Hirsch, Faye, “MoMA’s Excellent Print Show Celebrates Circulation,” review in Art in America, online, 02 February 2012

Stutzer, Beat.  “Prints and Multiples by Not Vital”, article in Print Quarterly, Volume XXII, Number 3, September 2005, p.301.

Platzker, David and Elizabeth Wycoff.  Hard Pressed: 600 Years of Prints and Process. 2000, New York, Hudson Hills Press in association with the International Print Center New York, p.33 and p.103, no.132, illustrated (another example).

Collections:

Museum of Modern Art, New York

The New School, University Art Collection, New York

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

Fundaziun Not Vital, Sent, Switzerland