William Kentridge: Catalogue Raisonné Volume 1

William Kentridge (born 1955) has been creating poignant, clever and visually arresting works across a variety of mediums for more than five decades. This book focuses on his long-standing relationships with printmaking and poster design. Over the past three years, South African scholar Warren Siebrits began compiling a five-volume catalogue raisonné of Kentridge’s prints and posters. In this first volume, focusing on graphics produced between 1974 and 1990, Siebrits presents the artist’s earliest forays into linocut, etching and monotype printing, to name but a few. While for many artists printmaking is informed by their work in what have historically been considered more valuable mediums such as painting and drawing, Siebrits emphasizes that Kentridge’s process has been quite the opposite. This intensive look at Kentridge first and foremost as a printmaker is thus crucial for a comprehensive understanding of his diverse and influential oeuvre. The chronology of the prints and posters helps reestablish many lost and obscure tributaries that will prove invaluable for following Kentridge’s trajectory.