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Hans Peter Willberg, Franz Kafka, and others

The Trial

1989

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The Trial

1989

Physical Qualities Bound volume with 64 screenprints, Book: 409 x 290 x 15 mm. (16 1/8 x 11 7/16 x 9/16 in.)
Credit Line Ryda Hecht Levi Collection of Illustrated Books, Gift under the Will of Ryda H. Levi
Object Number 2009.249
from Kaldewey's press sheet: This book is a calligraphic interpretation of Kafka's novel, The Trial. Mr. Willberg starts the first page by writing out the text in 27 lines. Then, adding one more line per page, the spacing between the lines decreases, until in the last pages it becomes totally black, as he would have written layers of text on top of the others. This relates to the end of the novel, when Mr. K., the protagonist, thought that he had explained his case in utter clarity, but in reality, everything has progressively become more and more confused.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 2009; Ryda H. Levi, Baltimore; purchased from Brenda Edelson

Inscribed: on colophon, center left in graphite: "Hans Peter Willberg"

Artist

Hans Peter Willberg

1929–2000

German, born 1930
Meet Hans →

Author

Franz Kafka

1882–1923

German, 1883-1924
Meet Franz →

Publisher

Kaldewey Press

2000–2000

Meet Kaldewey →

Explore the Collection Further

Alphonse Adolphe Gery-Bichard
Esmeralda on Trial
19th century
Unknown Artist and Alexis Lemaistre
The Trial
2000
Unknown Artist and Alexis Lemaistre
The Trial
2000
Corita Kent and Tom Lewis
Cover for the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968
Tom Lewis
From the portfolio "The Trial and Prison"
1968