A 1970 cover design by Edward Ruscha for the experimental anthology Assembling, featuring a stark, high-contrast photographic arrangement.

This work is the cover design for the first volume of Assembling, a publication compiled by Henry Korn and Richard Kostelanetz in 1970. The project functioned as an open-submission anthology, intended to provide a platform for experimental manuscripts that traditional publishers rejected. Edward Ruscha, known for his interest in the vernacular of American culture and the mechanics of book production, provided a design that reflects the aesthetic of mid-century commercial printing and amateur zine culture.

The composition features a central oval containing the title, surrounded by four distinct photographic segments of a camel. The imagery is stark and high-contrast, typical of the black-and-white reproduction methods used in independent publishing of the era. The inclusion of numbered labels on the animal segments suggests a clinical or instructional tone, which contrasts with the chaotic, non-conformist nature of the manuscripts contained within the volume. The border, featuring a decorative, repetitive pattern, frames the utilitarian layout, adding a layer of visual irony to the otherwise straightforward presentation.

Ruscha often utilised the format of the book as a primary medium, treating the physical object as a site for artistic inquiry. By applying his graphic sensibilities to an anthology of experimental writing, he bridged the gap between fine art and the burgeoning field of artist-run publications. The design remains a clear example of his ability to elevate mundane or mass-produced imagery through precise, deadpan arrangement. This print captures a moment in the history of independent publishing, where the physical form of the book was as much a part of the artistic statement as the text itself.