This is the artist’s book “Inside World” by Richard Prince, published in 1989. It is a clothbound hardcover edition (ED.250), signed and numbered by the artist. This particular example also includes an original handwritten “joke” drawing by Prince, inserted loose as issued and signed by the artist.

Published by Thea Westreich Associates in New York, the book presents fragmented and recontextualized images drawn from American subcultures such as biker culture, heavy metal, and stock car racing. Alongside these are reproductions of works by artists including Gerhard Richter and Cindy Sherman, creating a layered examination of aggression, desire, and representation in mass media.

Prince’s signature strategy of appropriation is central to this work, as he cuts, crops, and reassembles existing imagery to generate new meanings. The included joke drawing connects to his text-based works, where humor operates as a critical tool.

With its signed and numbered limitation and the addition of an original drawing, this example transcends the format of a book, functioning as a hybrid object between publication and artwork, and stands as a highly desirable collector’s piece.