Peter De Voogd

First published in 1759, Laurence Sterne’s ‘The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy’ is widely considered a revolutionary novel, and its style is marked by digression, double entendre, and graphic devices. In ‘Alas, artist Sophie Nys obsesses about one of these devices, the so-called black page, famously paired with the line, “Alas, poor Yorick!” She compiles a remarkable collection of black pages, all gathered from more than 100 different editions of Sterne’s book. Included show more is a text by Peter de Voogd, the collector and owner of the library from which all the images in this publication originate, on the technical challenges that printing a black page presented for these early editions.

This publication is realized upon invitation by Tine Guns within the research project Bioscopic Books. Artist’s Books As Seen Through the Cinema Eye and made possible by the support of LUCA School of Arts and the research group Image.

Infinite thanks goes to Peter de Voogd, the collector and owner of the illustrious library from which all the images in this publication originate. Without his generosity, hands and knowledge it would have been unthinkable to compile this remarkable collection of black pages, all captured from more than hundred different editions of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne. show less