Gilbert & George (b.1943 & b.1942)

Red Boxers

The complete Postal Sculpture, 1976, comprising eight block printed greetings cards in gold ink on either red or black cardstock, each signed by the artists in either red or black ink, from the edition of unknown size, with four original rubber stamped and posted envelopes, published by the artist’s under their imprint ART FOR ALL, on wove paper, the full sheets as issued, each 202 x 126mm., 8 x 5 in.

The cards are printed alternately on red or black card, and an intricate colour system is followed throughout the work, which in turn initiates an integral aspect of the sculpture: the four red cards have the text printed in red within, each of their envelopes have the 'Red Boxers' stamp in red, and the addressee has their name handwritten in red ink on the front of the envelope. However, the artists sign each of the red cards in black ink; the four black cards, in comparison, have this colour system inverted in that their text is printed in black, and their envelopes are stamped in black with the addressee also written in black, however with Gilbert & George's signatures now written in red ink.