David Shrigley, Big Black Book, 2023

Big Black Book (2023) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

Big Black Book (2023) is a striking David Shrigley print that subverts the traditional boundaries of graphic art through its bold, high-contrast composition. The image presents a monolithic black rectangle representing a volume, set against a stark, unblemished white background. Carved directly into the dark surface, the titular words appear in the artist's signature hand-drawn sans-serif lettering, revealing the raw texture of the paper beneath.

Embodying the concept of Absurdity, the composition comments on the literalism and redundant taxonomy of modern life. By rendering a book that declares nothing but its own physical description, the artist exposes the humour in our constant need to categorise and label the world around us.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013 and widely celebrated for his Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square, David Shrigley has secured a pivotal position in contemporary British art. His celebrated participation in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and representation in global museum collections underscore his institutional significance.

His wider practice translates spontaneous, raw drawings into refined graphic editions that resonate with a global audience. Each David Shrigley print acts as a satirical mirror, utilizing minimalist aesthetics to dissect complex human anxieties.

Screenprint Process

Although widely celebrated for his screenprint editions, the artist opted for the tactile relief of the linocut method to produce this particular work. This technique allows the dense black ink to sit heavily on the heavy Somerset 300gsm paper, creating a rich texture that contrasts with the clean, flat surfaces typically associated with a traditional screenprint.

The physical carving of the lino block preserves the immediate, hand-rendered quality of the original drawing. Produced in collaboration with Jealous Gallery, this David Shrigley limited edition print exemplifies how traditional relief printing can capture the spontaneity of modern illustrative art.

Collectability

Collectors consistently seek out works that showcase the artist's most recognisable graphic motifs and text-based humour. Pieces that balance immediate visual impact with profound conceptual wit enjoy continued collector interest in the global secondary market.

Representing an important text piece from his celebrated 2023 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's printmaking practice. With an edition size of just 100 copies, the limited release ensures a strong secondary-market presence for years to come.