For Sale: Ed Ruscha Photographs Seven Products, Twentyfive Apartments, Three Palm Trees, Six Rooftops, And One Aerial View. Beverly Hills, Gagosian Gallery, 2003.

Description

Published in 2003 by the Gagosian Gallery, this 59-page softcover volume accompanied an exhibition held from March 20 to April 19, 2003, at their Beverly Hills Gallery.

The book features a collection of 42 duotone photographs by Ed Ruscha, printed by his brother Paul (from Ed’s original negatives), showcasing his distinctive perspective on everyday urban and suburban landscapes. The images are organized into thematic sections, each focusing on a specific subject,; which, of course, harken back to his artist’s books published decades earlier:

• Seven Products: Photographs of various consumer items.
• Twentyfive Apartments: Images capturing the facades and details of apartment buildings.
• Three Palm Trees: Studies of individual palm trees in different settings.
• Six Rooftops: Views highlighting the architectural features of building rooftops.
• One Aerial View: A singular photograph taken from an elevated perspective.

A terrific book exemplifying Ruscha’s interest in documenting the mundane and presenting them in a way that encourages viewers to appreciate their inherent aesthetic qualities.