Baake, Frans. — Seh’n sucht.

Amsterdam, self-published, 1990, (16) leaves (recto only), 14 plywood-cut illustrations in many different colours, printed in 20 copies in black and green, numbered and signed by the artist, original olive green cloth stamped in black, red endpapers, folio (35,7 x 29.7 cm.). = “Zienzucht en Verlangen/ naar onbekende verten/ en onbekende dichtbijheden,/ of andersom;/ waar mistig Vuurland/ naadloos zal overgaan/ in vurig Mistland…” (title-page). During his travels, Frans Baake makes sketches, photos and notes. The journey is then translated into a work of art, namely an artist's book, which he publishes himself in a small edition. In artists' books, the image usually dominates. The countless artist books that Baake has made are full of photos, woodcuts, linocuts, screenprints, collages and texts. The books are not literally about his travels and are therefore not comparable to the way we make our photo album or diary after a holiday. Baake’s way of working is similar in general: he prepares for his voyage, at the actual trip he will make drawings, writings, photographs; in his studio back home these together with his thoughts and ideas will be transformed into books, prints, sketches, portfolios, articles.