Category: PISTOLETTO, MICHELANGLO

MICHELANGELO PISTOLETTO, Le Ultime Parole Famose, 1967
7,6 x 12,6 cm
artist’s book, letterpress, stapled
text in Italian and English
edition 60
published by the artist
naturally discoloured due to its wood-containing paper, light bump top right
good, uncommon in this condition
€ 750,- plus € 18,- registered mail
inv.MPis 155

This booklet is the first artist’s book by Michelangelo Pistoletto in a limited edition of 60 copies as is stated by him in a publication of Musée d’Art Contemporain in Lyon in France: “Michelangelo Pistoletto Continenti del Tempo”, 2001.
The text is both in Italian and English, the latter being very uncommon at the time! The first line in the book may be considered as the kernel of the whole manifesto and states what it means to be an artist:

“When a man realizes that he has two lives – an abstract one for his mind and a concrete one which is also for his mind – he ends up either like a mad-man, who, out of fear, hides one of his lives and plays the other as a role, or like the artist, who has no fear and who is willing to risk both of them.”

History of prices:
Tim Byers Art Books, Richmond, UK GBP 650.- April 2023 (discoloured)
eBay-vetiver62, Firenze, Italy US$ 1,800.- April 2023 (poor and discoloured)
Ellis Bierbar, Milano, Italy € 700,- April 2022 (condition unknown)
Tim Byers Art Books, Richmond, UK GBP 650.- October 2021 (discoloured)
eBay-vetiver62, Firenze, Italy US$ 1,800.- October 2021 (poor and discoloured)
eBay-many-giochi, Rome US$ 550.- October 2008 (tear and discoloured)
Barneby’s US$ 850.- January 2018 (discoloured)