Lubok release two new books of naked and dancing ladies

Date
1 December 2014

I make no bones about being a die-hard fan of German publishing house Lubok Verlag. Their luxurious block-printed publications have my unconditional admiration for their wonderful tactility, skilful printing and beautiful content. Right now though, they’ve surpassed their own high standards, having just released two new books by a couple of my favourite artists.

The first is a fresh volume from Lubok’s founder Christoph Ruckhäberle. Called Polka, it’s a simple premise executed perfectly; a series of woodcut maidens engaged in a different move from the Polka. Stylistically the characters are evocative of German folk art but with a Muybridge twist; simple black and white illustrations with a reductive geometric form that give shape and movement to this traditional European dance.

The second is by Israeli artist Tal R and is a slightly more complex affair. Tal has taken 26 nude drawings of (mostly) naked women and rendered them in GLORIOUS 3D, by virtue of three-colour litho printing and a series of hand-drawn photopolymer positives. What does that mean? It means he’s drawn the same image slightly differently, three times in a row, then printed each in yellow, blue and red. Simply named Mädchen in 3-D (Girls in 3D), it’s a welcome addition to any collectors of Tal’s work.

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Christoph Ruckhäberle: Polka

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Christoph Ruckhäberle: Polka

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Christoph Ruckhäberle: Polka

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Christoph Ruckhäberle: Polka

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Tal R: Mädchen in 3-D

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Tal R: Mädchen in 3-D

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Tal R: Mädchen in 3-D

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Tal R: Mädchen in 3-D

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Tal R: Mädchen in 3-D

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About the Author

James Cartwright

James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

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