Frieder Nake (German, b. 1938) Polygonzug, 1965
Plotter drawing / Ink on Paper
22 × 30 cm
Edition of 150, in 5 variations (per DAM invoice 16-11-42)
Collection of Bre Pettis
PION.2016.008
Description
Polygonzug — a random polygon traversal, the motif at the heart of Nake's 1965 production. This record carries an acquired claim of "edition of 150 in five variations" that appears in no documented source and sits awkwardly beside the plotter-drawing medium: an edition of 150 would be an offset or screen print, not an individually plotted sheet. Authentic 1965 plots are signed in pencil on the verso and carry a machine-plotted "NAKE /ER56/Z64" at lower right — the sheet should be inspected to settle whether this is an original plot or a print after one.
Sources: http://dada.compart-bremen.de/item/artwork/405
I like all the Nakes here, but Polygonzug is the one I like most.
DAM's 2016 invoice describes this sheet as "edition of 150, in 5 variations" — the source of the edition claim recorded here.