Hans Peter Willberg, Franz Kafka, Kaldewey Press
The Trial
1989
Scroll
Hans Peter Willberg, Franz Kafka, Kaldewey Press
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"