Mind - plate 10 from "21 Etchings and Poems", with poet Richard Wilbur

Salvatore Grippi

"Mind", an artist's proof, outside the published edition of 50, was done as plate 10 in "21 Etchings and Poems", a collaboration between Salvatore Grippi (brother of Peter Grippe) and poet and two time Pulitzer Prize winner an Poet Laureate Richard Wilbur (1921-2017).

The Prospectus for 21 Etchings and Poems read:

“This long-awaited portfolio of original etchings was initiated at Atelier 17 New York, in 1951, under Peter Grippe’s direction. Each poem is in the poet’s handwriting, in most instances, engraved by the poet himself.

It will be published in October 1958 by Morris Weisenthal, himself one of the early contributors, and now director of the Morris Gallery. Mr. Grippe and he, over a period of years, enlarged the scope of the project to include many celebrated artists and poets. Dylan Thomas, in life and memory, was the spirit behind the task. James Johnson Sweeney, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, has written an Introduction. The edition is limited to 50 numbered copies, printed on Rives paper.

This unnumbered proof impression is printed on a white Japon Nacré and is from the collection of the artist.