Allegra Pesenti Livres

Focusing on the little-known but remarkable drawings of Victor Hugo, this book sheds light on the novelist, poet, and playwright's artistic practice and creative brilliance.

This elegant volume accompanies the first museum survey of drawings by Rachel Whiteread, tracing her career from the late 1980s to the present. While her public works, such as House, Water Tower, and Untitled Monument, are well-known, her works on paper have largely remained undiscovered by the public. This book delves into Whiteread's draftsmanship, a crucial yet lesser-known aspect of her creative process. "My drawings are a diary of my work," she explains, with her drawings capturing everything from fleeting ideas to more developed reflections. The book highlights the unique features of her works on paper, including their varied textures, subtle tonal nuances over colored graph paper, and the interplay of imagery in collaged constructions. It includes exquisite reproductions of her drawings, alongside essays by Allegra Pesenti and Ann Gallagher. A distinctive visual essay by Whiteread showcases an installation of found and made objects from various sources. Viewed as a parallel to her sculptures or as an integral part of her art, her drawings represent a significant area of Whiteread's remarkable career, deserving of close attention and celebration.