1987, 3x SIGNED, Robert Lax, 33 Poems, with Greeting Card & Poem Copy, First Edition

Description

Robert Lax

33 Poems

Signed and dedicated by the author to Kosta, Marysa and Leon

Published by Hansjörg Mayer Editions Stuttgart in 1987 

 

Original Hard Binding with Dust Jacket

15.5 cm x 23.5 cm 

First Edition

 

Included is a 

folded and signed Christmas Greeting Card (dedicated to Marysa, Costa and Leon)

1 leaf, 36 cm x 25.5 cm

with a handwritten poem and drawings

and 

a signed Copy of Lax’ Black and White Poem 

as it was published in the art magazine Materia Prima in 1987

2 leaves, 36.5 cm x 25.5 cm

 

Robert Lax (1915–2000) was an American poet, minimalist writer, and spiritual thinker known for his contemplative, stripped-down poetry that often reflected themes of faith, simplicity, and inner peace. He was born in Olean, New York, and studied at Columbia University, where he became friends with Thomas Merton, the famous Trappist monk and writer, as well as figures like Jack Kerouac and Mark Van Doren. Another friend of his youth was the painter Ad Reinhardt. After a long period of drifting from job to job around the world, Lax settled on the Greek island of Patmos during the latter part of his life. Considered by some to be a self-exiled hermit, he nevertheless welcomed visitors to his home, but did nothing to court publicity or expand his literary career or reputation. His poetry is highly minimalist, often consisting of single words or short phrases spaced across the page, resembling a meditative, rhythmic flow. His work was influenced by jazz, modernist experimentation, and his deep interest in spirituality. He developed a unique poetic style that combined elements of concrete poetry, repetition, and a focus on the sacred in everyday life. 

In 1987, Italian artists Sandro Sproccati and Alvaro Becattini launched the art and literature magazine “Materia Prima: Aperiodico d’arte e di letteratura“. This inaugural issue featured contributions from various notable figures, including Robert Lax, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Maurizio Nannucci, Adriano Spatola, and Stéphane Mallarmé.