Author Description

Biografie van een uitgeverij / Biography of a Publishing House. Stefan & Franciszka Themerson & Gaberbocchus' presents the exceptional qualities of Stefan and Franciszka Themerson's Gaberbocchus Press.0The Themersons, a Polish-born, British couple, combined the disciplines of philosopher, writer, painter, illustrator, graphic designer, film-maker and publisher, produced publications that are remarkable in every sense of the word. 'There is a madness about various Gaberbocchus books which is the spice of life, an ingredient somewhat lacking in the world of impeccable book production', wrote a critic in 1956. 'Not best-sellers, but best-lookers' was how Stefan and Franciszka Themerson formulated the intention underlying their books. All of them are based on three significant characteristics: improvised techniques and materials, experiment with word and image and the imaginative interpretation of their content.00With this biography of Gaberbocchus Press, translator Walter van der Star and graphic designer Piet Gerards (here in co-operation with Stephan de Smet) have fulfilled a long-standing ambition of the publishing house, Huis Clos. Sixty titles published between 1948 and 1979 are described. Every title is included, but we have chosen to concentrate our selection on the most defining and visually striking books, paying particular attention to the engagement of form with content. A special section is devoted to the links of Gaberbocchus Press with the Netherlands. The Themersons corresponded and in some cases maintained close ties with, among others: Jaco Groot, W.F. Hermans, Nicolaas Matsier, Erik van Zuylen, K. Schippers and Rudy Kousbroek.0Jasia Reichardt and Nick Wadley, who have preserved the legacy of the Themersons for posterity in such an exemplary manner, each contributed an important article.