A Book Of Automatic Drawings : Austin Osman Spare

Description

One of 1000 copies of the 1972 limited edition Catalpa Press printing of A Book of Automatic Drawings by Austin Osman Spare

Spare, Austin Osman. A Book of Automatic Drawings. Catalpa Press. London. 1972. Limited Edition.

Limited edition release of The Book of Automatic Drawing by British artist and magician Austin Osman Spare (1886 – 1956) with introductory essay by Ian Law. An associate of Aleister Crowley and Kenneth Grant, credited by some with starting the “chaos magic” movement of the 20th century, Spare saw fame as a draftsman and portrait artist in the 1910s before spending several decades more focused on mysticism than making a living. Although his work is held at the National Portrait Gallery, the destruction of his studio during the London Blitz of WWII helped contribute to his faded reputation after his death before a resurgence of interest starting in the 1970s.

Originally created by Spare in 1925 and intended for self-publication, A Book of Automatic Drawings was released by Catalpa in folio form, reproducing Spare’s original manuscript sketchbook for a run of 1000 copies. As implied by the name, “automatic drawing” is a technique often compared to channeling used by spiritualists and surrealists to contact the spirit world or one’s own subconscious through the use of unedited, often unseen sketches. Each formed out of a single unbroken line, Spare’s illustrations include human beast hybrids like satyrs as well as several partial self-portraits.

 

[36]pp. Folio. Grey paper wraps with illustrated title plate. Some wear and toning to edges and spine. Small tears to front and back fore edges. Corners bumped. Sunning to back wrap. Hand numbered 258 of 1000 copies. Very good condition.

 

If you liked this book, you might also enjoy this fake Austin Osman Spare created by noted art forger Eric Hebborn or this copy of Dick Higgins’ art book What Are Legends