Abstract
This study note will discuss the term "artists' books" (AB) and its subject matter, which can be considered one of the printed matter, based on the content of the talk event "Ephemera: Library, Museum, and Archive" held at the Keio Museum Commons in September 2023. While the term, AB is now widely used as books by artists or books of artists, it is also a term used to describe a genre of books that were actively produced mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, in which the artists expressed themselves as works of art. This study will examine the genesis and dissemination of the term, as well as the evolution of its definition and subject, referring to past discourses, artworks, and exhibitions. Furthermore, AB can be collected and managed among various institutions, including libraries, museums, and archives due to its characteristics, and this paper will refer to the reality and possibilities from the art museum's perspective.
