SM CATALOG, 1969, DESIGN PIETER ENGELS, executiemethode in coöperaties with Wim Crouwel
“Pieter Engels’s dryly humorous cries, whether in English or not, have been quoted many times and are once again found in his catalog, shot through with 48 white pages, published on the occasion of his exhibition at the Stedelijk, until April 13. (, “This has no other reason than to make the catalog considerably thick, or to reinforce non-Engels fans in their conviction that it seems more than it is.) ” (Fanny Kelk, March 13, 1969, Het Parool)
“Remarkable in all this is his disarming candor, by which – as must then be the intention – he makes himself elusive. And it is rather telling that a self-portrait that he once wrote for the Museum Journal, under the pseudonym Simon Es (as he calls himself when he acts as his advertising chief) is called his “opus magnum”. As far as Engels’ aforementioned talents are concerned, it is sufficient to refer to the catalog, which – with glamour – offers a good example of them and in which I also find Engels’ best-successful practical joke with the size that is due to 48 totally empty pages. But then he himself says – very candidly, see also above – with that: This has no other reason than to make the catalog thick or to strengthen the non-Engels fans in their conviction that it looks more than it is. (C.Doelman, March 15, 1969, Rotterdamse Courant)
