THE RAW POWER OF EPSTEIN

Black, Robert ; [Epstein, Jacob] (1880–1959)

The Art of Jacob Epstein [Signed/Limited No. 404] [Inscribed to Ben Raeburn]

Cleveland: The World Publishing Company, 1942.
A significant association copy of this early American study of the sculptor Jacob Epstein, inscribed by the author to publisher Ben Raeburn. 

Robert Black’s monograph remains a cornerstone for understanding Epstein’s impact on 20th-century sculpture, particularly his controversial public monuments and expressive portrait busts. This limited-edition issue is heavily illustrated with 175 plates, providing an exhaustive visual archive of Epstein's output. Inscribed five years after publication to the founder of Horizon Press, this copy represents a physical intersection of art history and the mid-century New York publishing network.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: 175 full-page photographic plates including major works such as Genesis, Adam, and his celebrated portraits of Albert Einstein and Joseph Conrad.
+++ Binding: Original publisher's cloth; spine professionally stabilized with dark-brown tape.
+++ Limitation: Copy No. 404 of 425. Signed by Robert Black on the limitation page.
+++ Inscription: Addressed to the publisher: June 14, 1947 / For Ben Raeburn from [R.B.]
+++ Imprint: Cleveland: The World Publishing Company, 1942.
+++ Specs: 12 inches tall (Quarto); 251 pages.

CONDITION: Good.
+++ The Book: Text block is firm and internally clean. The pages show light, even age-toning but are free of marks or foxing.
+++ The Exterior: The spine has been stabilized with dark-brown tape to ensure structural integrity. Corners are rubbed with general shelf wear and exposure consistent with a frequently consulted reference work.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Modernist Reception: Documents the 1940s American critical perspective on Epstein, whose work was often met with public hostility for its raw, "primitive" power.
+++ Publishing History: The 1947 inscription to Raeburn suggests Black was sharing his work with a peer known for supporting 'difficult' or avant-garde subject matter. Sourced from the estate of Ben Raeburn and Pat Percy; a 'working library' copy from a man who shaped the careers of Frank Lloyd Wright and the New York avant-garde.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE — 
Jacob Epstein was a lightning rod for the modernist movement. By the time this book was inscribed to Ben Raeburn in 1947, Raeburn was already beginning to cement his reputation as a publisher who valued artistic integrity over commercial safety. This copy is an artifact of that era—a time when the 'Republic of Letters' was actively debating the merits of modernism across different media.

SUBJECTS: Jacob Epstein, Modernist Sculpture, Robert Black, Ben Raeburn, Horizon Press, Limited Editions, Signed Art Books, 20th Century Art, Association Copy, Limited Edition, Art Monograph.

Item #21758

Price: $45.00