Jack Spencer, the artist-titled book produced by 21st Editions, has been released as the third edition in their Prism Series. With a special emphasis on producing high-quality, limited edition books of fine art, the book and its hard enclosure are works of art in and of themselves. Wrapped in beautiful handmade paper, the large square format (12 ½” x 12 ½”), adds a further weight to the significance of the book as a physical object: there’s pleasure in holding a book of such thoughtful luxury.

Yet no book succeeds in format alone. The book includes 95 images, of predominately portraits, landscapes, and still life works. The subject matter varies quite a lot, from a naturalistic image of a woolly buffalo, to an incredibly stylized image of a man posing wearing a horse’s head and body paint. Despite the diversity, the visual style is consistent and beautiful. The technical format contributes greatly to the emotional impact, with the rusty colours of a daguerreotype, the gently hued black and whites, as well as the occasionally spotted surface of the images, the unapologetic calling card of photos as unique objects. Though some of the images are digital and some are not, it’s difficult and perhaps irrelevant to make the distinction: the craftsmanship is unquestionable.

In keeping with the elegant formatting, each image receives its own page, with only a small black line dividing the image from a simple line of text, offering the plate number and title. In this way, it feels more like a collection of works of art, like walking through a gallery, than it resembles a traditional book which unfolds in a particular order. Perhaps it’s the power of this effect that makes the work almost overwhelming: I find myself wanting for relief from the unrelenting intensity of page after page of strong images. It’s a champagne problem to have, however, and a welcome pleasure.

The photos are followed by a beautiful poem, ‘The Red Season’ by John Anderson, which works as the perfect closure to the book, reflecting on the grounded magical sensation of learning about oneself through connecting with the natural Earth.

Jack Spencer is available for sale from 21st Editions in a limited release of 280 copies, 200 of which are for sale, for $750, and includes a loose signed artist print.

Reviewed by Katherine Oktober Matthews.