Deluxe edition with an original signed watercolored etching by the German artist, depicting Orpheus, the ancient Greek musician, poet and prophet, holding a lyre.  89 pp.  Illustrated original boards with a CD (60 Min.) insert in front board, in original case with cover vignette, 13.75 x 10 inches (35 x 25 cm.).  Together with one pencil signed (monogrammed) original color etching 9.75 x 9.5 inches (24.5 x 24 cm.), (the full sheet 12 x 12 inches [30 x 30 cm.]) and 21 color offsets.  In very fine condition.

According to classical legend, when Orpheus played his lyre, fitted with nine strings in honor of the nine Muses, all men came to listen and rest their souls. Orpheus’ playing won him the heart of the beautiful Eurydice and he even charmed the terrible three-headed Cerberus to sleep when he descended to Hades to try to bring her back to life. The Orphic mysteries, rituals of esoteric, enigmatic content, were developed in his honor. Lüpertz has been interested in and making work around Orpheus and Greek mythology since his dithyrambs, begun in the 1960s.  The artist sees himself in Orpheus as musician and poet, which accounts for his 1983 self-portrait "Ich als Dichter" ("Me As Poet"), a sketch for the Das Ende des Orpheus (The End of Orpheus) series. He is also linked to the same year’s painting Selbstportrait "Ich voller Angst" (Self-Portrait: "Me Full of Fear").