Edward Ruscha / Crackers
Hollywood, Heavy Industry Publications, [G.R. Huttner Litography - Burbank, Cali - fornia], 1969, 22,2x15 cm., softcover, dust-jacket, pp. [240], cover with red title on a white background, 115 black and white photographic illustrations by Ken Price, Joe Goode and Edward Rucha. The only text of book appears on the flap of the back cover: «How To Derive The Maximum Enjoyment From Crackers» by Mason Williams. First edition of 5.000 unnumbered copies. [Bibliography: Engberg - Phillpot 1999: volume II, B10, pag. 125; Moe - glin Delcroix 2011: pag. 434].
Hollywood, Heavy Industry Publications, [G.R. Huttner Litography - Burbank, Cali - fornia], 1969, 22,2x15 cm., softcover, dust-jacket, pp. [240], cover with red title on a white background, 115 black and white photographic illustrations by Ken Price, Joe Goode and Edward Rucha. The only text of book appears on the flap of the back cover: «How To Derive The Maximum Enjoyment From Crackers» by Mason Williams. First edition of 5.000 unnumbered copies. [Bibliography: Engberg - Phillpot 1999: volume II, B10, pag. 125; Moe - glin Delcroix 2011: pag. 434].
Hollywood, Heavy Industry Publications, [G.R. Huttner Litography - Burbank, Cali - fornia], 1969, 22,2x15 cm., softcover, dust-jacket, pp. [240], cover with red title on a white background, 115 black and white photographic illustrations by Ken Price, Joe Goode and Edward Rucha. The only text of book appears on the flap of the back cover: «How To Derive The Maximum Enjoyment From Crackers» by Mason Williams. First edition of 5.000 unnumbered copies. [Bibliography: Engberg - Phillpot 1999: volume II, B10, pag. 125; Moe - glin Delcroix 2011: pag. 434].
The book is the photographic unfolding of Mason Williams’ fantasy: getting the maximum pleasure from a pack of tasty crackers. To do this, a real artistic action is carried out: the protagonist manages to get an appointment with a beautiful woman. For the event he buys a large quantity of vegetables and related condiments, and rents two rooms in two different hotels. On the evening of the appointment, once they enter the room, he makes the woman sit in her bed and sprinkles her with vegetables which he then duly seasones with oil and spices. The woman is pleasantly surprised by such strangeness: it is at this point that the protagonist snaps his fingers and pronounces the word “Crackers!” out loud. He advises the woman to stay in bed while he runs to buy a box. The man goes to buy crackers and then heads towards the other hotel. There he calmly lies down in bed and enjoys them in solitude with perceptible satisfaction one after the other, until the box is used up.
