Peter Alexander - Anacin I, 1972 (B.A.T. Impression)
Peter Alexander - Anacin I, 1972 (B.A.T. Impression)
Peter Alexander (American, 1939-2020)
Anacin I, 1972
Five-color lithograph printed in three runs from three aluminum plates on Kromekote paper
Image/Sheet: 11 1/8 x 13 1/8 inches
Bon a Tirer (B.A.T.) impression, aside from Cirrus proofs, Artist's Proofs, Printer's Proofs, and the numbered edition of 79
Published by Cirrus Editions, Los Angeles
Signed, titled, and inscribed B.A.T. in pencil, verso
Cirrus Editions blindstamp lower left; Cirrus work number 76C-PA72 in pencil, verso
About the Work
Anacin I reflects Alexander's fascination with perception, media imagery, light, and the transformation of ordinary visual experience into something atmospheric and transcendent. Like his celebrated cast-resin sculptures, the image appears suspended between reality and illusion, evoking the glow of a television screen, a fading memory, or a landscape viewed through layers of heat and light. Printed on Kromekote paper to maximize luminosity, the work exemplifies Alexander's lifelong exploration of color, transparency, and optical experience.
About the B.A.T. Impression
The Bon a Tirer (B.A.T.) is the printer's master approval impression used as the benchmark against which the entire edition is judged. Retained by the artist and printer, B.A.T. impressions are substantially scarcer than standard numbered examples and are regarded by serious collectors as among the most desirable states of any print.
Provenance
From the personal collection of Jean Milant, founder of Cirrus Editions, Los Angeles - one of the most influential figures in contemporary American printmaking. Through Cirrus, Milant collaborated with many of the leading artists of the postwar era, helping establish Los Angeles as a major center for innovative print production.
Literature
Bruce Davis, Made in L.A.: The Prints of Cirrus Editions, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1995, p. 160, another example illustrated.
Condition
Overall very good condition with strong presentation. Full sheet, unframed. Minor fingerprints visible within portions of the black border under raking light and a soft handling mark along the upper black margin. These are subtle and do not detract from the visual impact of the work.
About the Artist
Peter Alexander (1939-2020) was a founding figure of the California Light and Space movement. His work is held in the permanent collections of MoMA (New York), LACMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, SFMoMA, the National Gallery of Art, the Norton Simon Museum, and numerous other major institutions worldwide.
Similar lithographs from the same series are also available. Inquiries welcome.