Karel Martens: Re-Printed Matter

The work of Karel Martens occupies an intriguing place in the present European art-and-design landscape. Re-Printed Matter celebrates his formidable body of work through both content and form. The book's distinctive exposed printed open binding spine serves as a material manifesto of Martens' design philosophy—revealing process while creating aesthetic value.

Now in its fourth edition, this volume documents nearly 60 years of Martens' practice, with particular focus on his renowned monoprints that explore the tension between geometric precision and material improvisation—the same works featured in his highly sought-after yearly calendar.

This definitive collection functions simultaneously as archive, artifact, and argument for design that engages deeply with materiality. The book transcends documentation to become a tactile expression of Martens' enduring influence on contemporary typography and visual communication—each page a testament to his relentless curiosity about the boundaries between artistic expression and functional design.

280 pages
Paperback
6.75" x 9"
Exposed printed open binding spine
English
Publisher: Roma Publications

Karel Martens (b. 1939) is a pioneering Dutch graphic designer whose influence spans generations. Co-founder of the Werkplaats Typografie master's program at ArtEZ in Arnhem, Martens has balanced his artistic practice with teaching positions at Yale University and elsewhere. His career encompasses book design, stamps, coins, building signage, and his signature monoprints—geometric and kinetic experiments with the material possibilities of paper that have become his most celebrated work.