The Gift and the Inheritance (“Shakespeare’s Works”) 1989

Allen Ruppersberg created this graphite on paper drawing, "The Gift and the Inheritance ('Shakespeare's Works')", with meticulous detail. The composition centers on a single object, an ornate edition of Shakespeare's complete works, casting a subtle shadow that grounds the book in an ambiguous space. The artist’s delicate rendering focuses our attention on the book’s materiality, particularly the intricate patterns and textures adorning its cover. Ruppersberg seems interested in how visual signs and symbols communicate cultural meanings. Here, the image of Shakespeare's works functions as a signifier of high culture and literary heritage, its weathered appearance hinting at the weight of history and tradition. Ruppersberg’s choice of graphite, a medium associated with preparatory sketches, adds another layer of complexity. It's as if we’re witnessing the artist's attempt to capture and preserve a cultural artifact. By focusing on the book as an object, Ruppersberg invites us to consider how we inherit and engage with cultural knowledge, transforming literature into a tangible, almost sculptural form.