Ode to a Chestnut on the Ground by Verdigris Press
Neruda’s text is accompanied with three mezzotints by Judith Rothchild. While the text presentation is sparse and clean the images are velvety and dense. They capture the essence of Neruda’s words - “from bristly foliage” to “only a seed”.
From bristly foliage
you fell
complete, polished wood, gleaming mahogany, …You fell,
you struck
the ground,
but
nothing happened, …Because you are
only
a seed,
chestnut tree, autumn, earth,
water, heights, silence
prepared the germ,
the floury density,
the maternal eyelids
that buried will again
open toward the heights …
Processes, Dimensions, and Edition Information
Text Pablo Neruda
Translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden
Mezzotints by Judith Rothchild
[Octon, France]: Verdigris Press, 2013. Edition of 50.4.75 x 12.5”; 17 pages. Accordion structure extending from back pastedown. Letterpress printed in Univers on an Adana 8 x 5 by Mark Lintott using chestnut-colored ink. Printed on Hahnemuhle paper. Three mezzotints by Judith Rothchild. Bound in screenprinted paper, shades of brown with chestnut leaves, over boards. Laid in matching clamshell box. Author and title printed in black on spine and box. Signed and numbered by printer and artist.
Of the edition numbers 1 – 10 include an additional mezzotint and are in a clamshell box; 1 -4 also include one of the original copper plates. Copies 11-50 presented in slipcases.
Clamshell with additional mezzotint edition available.