Shoeless
Junior Member
🗨️ 1,111
👍🏻 624
February 2011
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Harland Miller Quality Critique , by Shoeless on Nov 12, 2022 3:15:34 GMT 1, Let me start by saying that I am a long time HM fan. I’ve been lucky enough to pick up a few from source. This critique is not in regards to the imagery at all as I find it clever and visually appealing.
What I have been disappointed by in recent years is the laziness with a few of the chosen images. Reusing titles and, more importantly, flat images. Why the move away from including the spline of the book?
Perfect example for me: I’ve always loved the High on Hope (2014?). It’s a great title and a bit messy around the edges. Perfect HM.
So, when Counter Editions released theirs in 2019, I jumped on it. When I received it though, I just couldn’t bring myself to enjoy it. It was too neat and trimmed. Sharp corners of the book made the image feel flat.
I am surprised that it wasn’t a one time release and there have been a couple others that followed similarly. I haven’t seen anyone else mention this, hence the thread, but I can’t be the only one who thinks it!
Let me start by saying that I am a long time HM fan. I’ve been lucky enough to pick up a few from source. This critique is not in regards to the imagery at all as I find it clever and visually appealing. What I have been disappointed by in recent years is the laziness with a few of the chosen images. Reusing titles and, more importantly, flat images. Why the move away from including the spline of the book? Perfect example for me: I’ve always loved the High on Hope (2014?). It’s a great title and a bit messy around the edges. Perfect HM. So, when Counter Editions released theirs in 2019, I jumped on it. When I received it though, I just couldn’t bring myself to enjoy it. It was too neat and trimmed. Sharp corners of the book made the image feel flat. I am surprised that it wasn’t a one time release and there have been a couple others that followed similarly. I haven’t seen anyone else mention this, hence the thread, but I can’t be the only one who thinks it! |
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Harland Miller Quality Critique , by John The Badgers on Nov 12, 2022 19:59:18 GMT 1, Interesting comment that shoeless, appreciate you mentioning the detail.
Likewise, a big Miller fan, and have a few bits, not the more recent stuff as now out of my reach.
Is it to emphasise the wording/message? Looking at your 2 pictures, seems to emphasise the title without the detail?
I certainly look forward to a direction away from the book covers and see where he goes as really like the work he produces. Not sure if anything 'different' at the upcoming White Cube exhibition?
Interesting comment that shoeless, appreciate you mentioning the detail.
Likewise, a big Miller fan, and have a few bits, not the more recent stuff as now out of my reach.
Is it to emphasise the wording/message? Looking at your 2 pictures, seems to emphasise the title without the detail?
I certainly look forward to a direction away from the book covers and see where he goes as really like the work he produces. Not sure if anything 'different' at the upcoming White Cube exhibition?
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Harland Miller Quality Critique , by chazawalla on Nov 13, 2022 1:57:58 GMT 1, I have to agree completely, the worn spine/full book in the first picture makes it look so much richer than the second one. The book is clearly the subject and it has a nice background bordering it which makes the subject pop out. This would look fantastic on the wall.
The cropping on the second one kind of makes it feel half assed. You can frame it and it'll probably look fine, but the book doesn't pop out anymore since there's nothing for it to pop out from. To someone not familiar with HM they wouldn't even realize that's supposed to be a book cover.
I hate to say it but the first one feels gallery worthy, the second seems like something mass produced for Etsy. I don't want to trash it too much because I'm a huge HM fan, but I definitely share your sentiment.
I have to agree completely, the worn spine/full book in the first picture makes it look so much richer than the second one. The book is clearly the subject and it has a nice background bordering it which makes the subject pop out. This would look fantastic on the wall.
The cropping on the second one kind of makes it feel half assed. You can frame it and it'll probably look fine, but the book doesn't pop out anymore since there's nothing for it to pop out from. To someone not familiar with HM they wouldn't even realize that's supposed to be a book cover.
I hate to say it but the first one feels gallery worthy, the second seems like something mass produced for Etsy. I don't want to trash it too much because I'm a huge HM fan, but I definitely share your sentiment.
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