Josef Čapek undoubtedly belongs among the key figures of Czech modern art, yet until the end of the twentieth century, his work had not been systematically documented. The aim of the book project "I Worked a Lot" is to publish a complete catalogue of Josef Čapek's original artistic works. The catalogue is divided into four volumes, which will be gradually released between 2019 and 2023. The first volume is dedicated to free-hand drawings, the second will encompass applied art, illustrations, caricatures, and scenographic designs, the third focuses on paintings, and the fourth part will map out his graphic works. This creates a unique, inspiring gallery that stands out among typical books on artworks. The project's author, Pavla Pečinková, has been consistently studying Čapek's work since the 1980s. The collector's book series is published by the publishing house and gallery Osmička.

© 2018, concept and design by Barbora Toman Tylová, Tibor Vizi, typesetting and retouching by Jiří Koudelka, photography by Filip Šach

For the reader's comfort, each volume is divided into two volumes - the text part and the inventory part. The size of both books results in a large spine area. Each volume features a black and white work by Čapek representing the theme of the volume. The black and white cut-out of the work thus serves as a clear and immediate landmark in the library as well as a distinctive decoration. There is no need for additional typography. A portion of the black and white drawing/cartoon/painting/graphic from the spine flows freely onto the cover, but is hidden there thanks to the flip-up cover. The cover is therefore at first glance only typographically designed. The principle of fold-out pages permeates the whole book.

In each volume, a catalogue with colour previews of individual works is accompanied by a pictorial strip with full-page reproductions of selected works and a monographic essay. Each volume is framed by a coloured paper slipcase. The colour of the sleeve is also the colour of the whole volume. Another striking graphic element is the Čapek quotations that separate the chapters and foreshadow the theme. The quotation always ends with the signature -č., as on the cover.

“What is the content of every art form if not the human being?” This deeply felt approach of Čapek to his own work became the visual motto of the graphic design. The book’s format size, the careful selection of high-quality elements such as font, paper, blind embossing on the case, and stamping on the cover, all reflect this. Valuable yet unpretentious, simple, clean, and straightforward.

“The painted canvases under the platform in my study are spoiled things (…), that is, works which must never be part of my artistic estate.” Josef Čapek wrote this to his wife from a concentration camp in 1940. This instruction was binding for Čapek’s heirs. Nevertheless, cataloging even these works is essential, and thus the paintings are presented in black and white in a separate thin volume, symbolically marked with a strikethrough. Therefore, the third volume dedicated to Josef Čapek’s painting contains not two parts, but three.