This set of four birthday collage cards are rare early examples of the small-scale collages that American artist Joel Jaecks began producing in the 1980s. Jaecks began working in watercolors when he was studying at UW-Milwaukee, but at the same time he was also experimenting with collage and assemblage. Some of the earliest expressions of this were cards like these, made to be mailed to his friends. Nonetheless, they demonstrate the sophisticated visual language of layered, appropriated imagery developed by artists like Jasper Johns.

Titles, from left to right:
'And good night to the street sweepers'
'And the old men in wheelchairs know'
'No one speaks English and everything's broken'
'The fugitives say that the streets aren't for dreaming now'

9 x 3.88 inches, each card
11.13 x 20.13 inches, frame
Signed and entitled on the reverse
Housed in a brass-finish aluminum moulding 
Overall good and stable condition; some areas of slight toning; some minor craquelure