What Is an Artist's Book?

Susana Domínguez explains the definition and value of an artist's book

Artistic binding is the answer to a creative need, and Susana Domínguez, an artist devoted to this trade, uses the art of binding to create unique pieces. The artisanal processes she applies are indeed the perfect techniques for binding treasured publications, such as artists' books.

In 2017 she was awarded the National Prize for Artistic Binding in Spain. Today, she will teach us what artists' books are, using examples that vary instyle, form, image, and text.

What is an artist's book?

There are almost as many artist books as there are artists. There is no single precise definition for them, except that they are objects that answer a creative need. These objects can take the shape of a traditional book, or they can be anything readable, whether made of paper or another material. As long as they follow this guiding principle, they can be defined as an artist's book.

Sometimes, the content inside the artist's book is someone's artistic work, with a cover to protect it. It can also be a product designed as a whole, where both the content and exterior respond to aesthetic or artistic criteria, and that combines text, photography, engraving, and/or illustration.

There are some examples of artist's books that are not exactly unique, usually referred to as industrialized books. A great example of these is photography compendiums, often with a particular binding tailored to the subject they cover. These can have unnumbered copies and their value is usually related to the number of editions available in the market. An example of this type of artist's book could be the Ashes and Snow compilation.

On the other hand, some artists make their own books, sometimes alone, sometimes as a collaboration exercise with other artists, such as Antonio Guerra's Manual de simbología para una afección cardiaca, of which only 150 copies were made. The book brings together works from various artists in a unique presentation, with a box-case designed by Antonio himself, that follows a single artistic vision.

There are many variations of these concepts. Even a stone slab with written letters could be considered an artist's book. If it is readable, it is a book, and if it generates some emotional response, then it’s artistic too.

Susana Domínguez teaches the Domestika course Handmade Binding without Stitches, where you'll learn how to make an artist's book using binding techniques that don't require any type of staple or stitch and will allow you to showcase images without interruption.

You may also like:

- DIY Binding Techniques, a course by Fábrica de Texturas.
- Artisanal Paper Elaboration, a course by Juan Barbé.
- Editorial Design: How a Book is Made, a course by Enric Jardí