White Shroud, Allen Ginsberg & Francesco Clemente

Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997) is widely regarded as one of the most culturally influential poets of the twentieth century. A defining figure of the Beat Generation, Ginsberg was also involved in the landmark obscenity trial surrounding Howl, which ultimately became an important victory for freedom of expression.

White Shroud is a collection of poems written between 1980 and 1985, conceived as an epilogue to Ginsberg’s 1961 elegy, Kaddish. The work offers an intensely intimate meditation on morality, grief, mortality and the passage of time. Ginsberg’s writing is characterised by its emotional vulnerability and unflinching examination of the complexities of human experience.

The volume is the result of a artistic collaboration between Ginsberg and the Italian contemporary artist Francesco Clemente, whose work was profoundly influenced by the traditional art and culture of India. The two artists shared a mutual admiration for William Blake, an affinity that helped inspire this richly illuminated collaboration. Clemente’s elaborate watercolour imagery provides an evocative visual counterpart to the emotional intensity of Ginsberg’s poetry.

The text reproduces Ginsberg’s handwritten manuscript, originally scribed in a notebook beside his bed between 5:30 and 6:35 a.m. on 5 October 1983, and subsequently re-scribed for this edition. His handwritten text is set against Clemente’s richly coloured illuminations, creating an intimate dialogue between poetry and image.

Published in Madras, India, in 1984 by Kalakshetra Publications Press, the volume was produced in a limited edition of 1,111 copies. The press was closely associated with traditional Indian craftsmanship, with the book reflecting this artisanal approach. It was published in conjunction with the Francesco Clemente exhibition at the Kunsthalle Basel.

This is an ultra-scarce version of the 1983 first edition of White Shroud and a particularly striking example of the collaborative artist’s book. The large folio volume contains ten rich colour illustrations by Clemente, together with a silkscreen frontispiece and Ginsberg’s printed handwritten script.

The book is bound in leopard-print cloth and handbound in hand-woven fabric, with gilt lettering to the front board giving the title, poet’s name and year of the project. It is protected by a clear acetate jacket. This copy also includes the original German translation leaflet. Pages are clean, bright and well preserved.

A highly distinctive and tactile production, White Shroud brings together the poetic voice of one of the Beat Generation’s defining figures with Clemente’s richly illuminated visual language. The result is an unusually intimate and artisanal artist’s book, reflecting the deeply personal and collaborative nature of the project.

This book is being sold for £125.

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