Various small fires and milk

"The most renowned series of artist's books in the history of the genre, Ed Ruscha's works [Twentysix Gasoline Stations, Some Los Angeles Apartments, Various Small Fires and Thirtyfour Parking Lots] still retain their capacity to surprise, delight and puzzle in equal measure. In the several decades since they were published, they have been much exhibited, written about and analyzed, yet they somehow are still objects of mystery and fascination, beguiling in their utter simplicity and immutable rightness. At the time of publication, they were largely overlooked by much of the photography world. The apparent anti-formalism and indifferent technique of Ruscha's pictures were derided; the perfect formalism of each book as an art object was not appreciated. Also disregarded was Ruscha's interest in, and debt to, two of photography's luminaries--Walker Evans and Robert Frank."--The Photobook : A History Volume II / Martin Parr and Gerry Badger. London : Phaidon, 2004.