Baake, Frans. — ‘LOAD’.

Enschedé, self-published, 1996, artist book produced in 10 numbered copies, each containing 32 x 8 photographic illustrations (recto) and wood-prints (verso), 8 red velvet and card divider-leaves with a black marker drawing on the velvet and a smaller drawing on the tab and a letterpress colophon-leaf signed and dated “’96” and numbered “1/10” in black fineliner, original red velvet-covered small size binder (“ordner”), original simple board protective box (numb. “1/10” in pen), quarto (23,3 x 22,5 cm.). = Wrapped in precious red velvet, this “office-system” contains 8 woodprints and photographs, all printed in sparkling yellow. Baake’s fascination for similarity in printing works made the artist putting in each sheet for exactly 32 times. To be clear: you get 10% of the printed edition at once; into the bargain, to keep the load loaded. 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.