A PASSAGE FROM BEOWULF, PRESENTED AS A JAPANESE UKIYO-E PRINT

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Beowulf always seems to be equated with medieval art and design, so why not do something radically different? In our first collaborative broadside published via the Broadside Collectors Club, Grendel is presented as a hungry ghost. These tormented figures in Japanese myths seek vengeance or violence with an ultimately unfulfillable yearning. Sounds like Grendel to us.

But Grendel as a hungry ghost is just the start. The broadside itself is presented as a Japanese ukiyo-e print. The hand calligraphed text (in English, and perfectly legible) cascades from top to bottom, giving the appearance at a glance of Japanese calligraphy. Original artist's seals (one of the most recognizable aspects of ukiyo-e to a western audience) are incorporated, and the overall text and art placement is true to the style.

The four artist's seals aren't just decoration. They serve as the colophon for the broadside. Usually, our work will include a statement such as, "This broadside was printed by X on Y paper, in an edition of Z." In lieu of an English colophon, we give the artist's names and press imprint using kanji. A small circular stamp gives the edition limitation – 200 – and Épreuve d’Artiste copies are numbered in Japanese.

EDITION NOTES

• Limited to 200, numbered 1 through 200, and offered on three papers.

• The third broadside of No Reply Press, Winter 2021.

• Broadside measures 6 by 11 inches.

• Printed by hand on using an old proof press named Caution at the Independent Publishing Resource Center in Portland, Oregon.

• Please note: Broadsides do not come framed, but custom framing options are available. Please contact us for details.

STONEHENGE PAPER

• Printed on gray Stonehenge mouldmade paper.

ZERKALL INGRES PAPER

• Printed on scarlet Zerkall Ingres mouldmade paper.

AWAGAMI PAPER (ÉPREUVE D’ARTISTE)

• Numbered in Japanese, 一 through 二十四.

• Printed on natural Awagami handmade paper.