Publishing art — its essence and understanding: A conceptual background for collecting publishing art in Wrocław

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the considerations of the scope of the term “publishing art” (in opposition to the scopes of related terms: “book art,” “art of the book,” “beautiful book,” “artist’s book,” “aesthetics of print,” “graphic design,” “typography,” “graphic arts,” “script”) and its draft definition, an inventory of features making up the amorphous landscape of publishing art is presented. This description makes it possible to understand the nature and history of collecting and exhibiting publishing art objects in libraries and museums in Wrocław between the 16th and 21st century, which, in 1973, resulted in the establishment of the Publishing Art Department at the National Museum in Wrocław.