A.R. Penck
It is impressive in its size, colour and volume. In capitals it says 'HOW IT WORKS'. It is red. The whole cover is red. And it is this that makes the book touching. Strikes. We are talking about the - by now award-winning - catalogue of A.R. Penck with more than two hundred paintings, drawings and sculptures. Conceived by Kunstmuseum Den Haag. Designed by Haller Brun and supported by Daan van Tulder (Printing Matters). Brought to life by us: NPN Drukkers.
How it works
The Dresden-born artist A.R. Penck - pseudonym for Ralf Winkler - is best known for his Streichholzmännchen. The well-known small figures with limbs like rakes. Always surrounded by angular stripes, numbers, letters and pictograms. In 1968 he became instantly famous for his works.
The elaborately designed book contains more than two hundred paintings, drawings and sculptures by A.R. Penck, some of which are reproduced here for the first time. Together, they form an excellent survey of the work of an artist who, after the Second World War, paved the way for a new concept of art in Germany. A.R. Penck - How it Works - is impressive proof that Penck was an artist who sought and found freedom.
We were immediately very enthusiastic; it is a great artist and an important museum that is involved. It is an honour to be allowed to design such a book'.
Haller Brun, Sonja & Pascal
Race against the clock
Sonja Haller: "Normally, a book as extensive as Penck takes at least six months or more to complete. But we had a maximum of two to three months. That is not usual, which is why we called in Daan from Printing Matters to support and guide us through the production process.
Daan: "This was really quite a special project. We had to realise it in three months. On the other hand, the production time was also extremely tight and that makes it extremely difficult. You cannot afford any mistakes. Have I ever had such a project before? No, never. It was a fairly complex but super challenging project. And when you then see what the final result is, that's really quite special!
Pascal: "That it was going to be a race against the clock was mainly due to that we wanted to use the exhibition as a starting point for the structure of the book. Until the selection and layout were finalised, we could not finish it. But it's great if you then get support from all sides."
Intensive cooperation
Pascal - Sonja agrees - is referring to the intensive cooperation with both Printing Matters and NPN Drukkers. Daan was responsible for the tight planning. A day's delay could mean a week's delay and there was no time for that.
"With such a tight deadline, you are constantly checking everything. Is the paper in stock? If not, what alternative do we need? Will we make it? Have the files been delivered? How do we deal with the press tests and the dummies? These are all steps that are taken before you move on to production.
The moment NPN is hooked up is when tenders are invited. The selection eventually leads to a printing company that can deliver the quality we have in mind", says Daan.
NPN is a party that thinks along with you. Always goes the extra mile. They simply understand what the quality of the product must be.
Printing Matters, Daan van Tulder
NPN Drukkers thinks along
"The preference for NPN was expressed because they are a printer who thinks along with you. They go the extra mile compared to other printers. They understand very well what you want and what the quality of the product must be. And if they set the bar high for themselves, I think you are doing a very good job with the production.
That is why we were able to achieve the result we have in front of us now. They really go 100 per cent for such a product.
The end result
"Whether we are satisfied with the end result? Yes we are! Very happy", says Pascal, laughing. Sonja: "What I am really happy about is that we were able to take our initial idea from beginning to end. The idea of the book is actually that you follow the route. You leaf through the book like the order of the exhibition. You imagine yourself going through the halls."
That the catalogue is among the 25 most beautiful books in Germany and among the 33 best looked after books in the Netherlands. That shows that a good job has been done.
Daan van Tulder, Printing Matters
Specifications A.R. Penck
The circulation of the book is 1,500 copies. It consists of 508 pages inside and 4 pages inside cover and 8 pages outside cover.
The largest part (256 pages) of the interior is printed on Munken Print white paper. In addition, 56 pages of Terraprint gloss, 80 gsm, 44 pages of IBO one and 144 pages of Enviro Smart U.
Printing: outside cover 1/0 deep black plus screen print in PMS, inside cover unprinted. Endpapers 2×4 pages 1/0. Inside: 4/4 full colour except for 24 pages Terraprint 2/2 duotone and Enviro Smart U printed in 2/2 PMS + deep black divided into six different sections/PMS colours.
Finishing touches are Otastar sewn with cold glue, outer cover with flaps approx. 220 mm wide. Endpapers 2×4 page glued on first and last quire.