Charles Hobson

Three Kisses

Made from found postcards, translucent envelopes and various papers, Three Kisses features the photographs of Robert Doisneau. Each envelope contains a photograph and a fictional story by Charles Hobson about the persons featured in the photographs. Hobson reproduced a pastel monotype as a digital pigment print and hand-colored it for the piece. The accordion fold book features black paper covered boards and a red cloth spine, and is housed in a corrugated board slipcase.

Artist Charles Hobson said: “Artists' books are a natural meeting place for image and word. Because of this, I work with books, particularly accordion and other sculptural forms of books, which allow both an intimate viewing experience and a group viewing experience to take place.”

Press: Pacific Editions
Date: 2003
Number and Edition: 66 of 90
Size: 5.5” x 4”

The Writer

Richard Wilbur’s warm and gentle poem conveying a father’s respect and love for his daughter as she begins the voyage into adulthood is the basis for this two-part book by Charles Hobson. “Part One” is printed on BFK Rives paper with interleaved vellum pigment prints. Cutouts and pastel monotype were reproduced as a pigment print with hand coloring. The text is set in 14-point Courier and printed letterpress. “Part Two” is printed as a flutter book with reproduced cutouts using hand-painted paper and selected words from the poem.

The two volumes are housed in a clamshell box designed to hold the books and to act as a platform from which to read them in conjunction with each other.

Press: Pacific Editions
Date: 2004
Number and Edition: 39 of 54
Size: 12” x 12”