Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris by Leanne Shapton

Released: February 2009

Illustrator and photographer Leanne Shapton has created a highly original and beautiful work of art with Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, a literary "auction" book detailing the four-year relationship of the people in question.

20-something Lenore Doolan is a cake-column writer for The New York Times, whereas Harold Morris is a freelance photographer in his 40s. Important Artifacts, et al. is a story told completely in pictures of the couple's personal belongings which include letters, lingerie, post-it notes, photographs, gifts from one another and much, much more. Miraculously, the book details the ups and downs of the relationship between Doolan and Morris throughout their beautiful and romantic four years together.


The concept of Important Artifacts, et al. is truly mind-numbing but don't doubt Shapton's ability to tell a thorough story through pictures because I promise, the collection will draw you in. It's absolutely fascinating to me how detailed and in-depth this catalogue is although there is no official narrative, per se.

What's even more sensational about Important Artifacts, et al. are the characters of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris in all their witty intelligence and wildly artistic temperaments. The two individuals are captivating creatures and their old-fashioned romantic ways are inspiring, indeed!

Leanne Shapton has also written Was She Pretty? (2006) about the nature of jealousy in women toward their boyfriend's ex-girlfriends.