NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH
ART CLASSES 1941 - 1942
Alexey Brodovitch, Berenice Abbott, Stuart Davis, Fritz Eichenberg et al.

[Brodovitch] New School For Social Research: NEW SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH ART CLASSES 1941 - 1942. NYC: New School For Social Research, 1941. First edition. A near-fine softcover catalogue in printed, self-wrappers: light wear to edges. Cover photograph by Irving Lerner.

5.25 x 8.25 saddle-stitched booklet with 28 pages illustrated with b/w full-page images by the faculty members of the New School For Social Research during the 1941-42 academic year.

Each faculty member is represented by a two-page spread with a full-page piece of art and a course description/syllabus and instructors' vitae. The faculty for the 1941-42 season consisted of:

  • Camilo Egas: Painting, Murals, Drawings, Frescoes
  • Berenice Abbott: Photography
  • Alexey Brodovitch: Art applied to Graphic Journalism, Advertising, Design, Fashion
  • Ladislas Czettel: Fashion Design
  • Stuart Davis:Modern Color -- Space Compositions
  • Jose de Creeft:Sculpture in Stone
  • Fritz Eichenberg:Block Printing
  • Stanley William Hayter: Technique of Etching and Engraving
  • Yasuo Kuniyoshi:Painting and Drawing
  • Seymour A. Lipton: Modeling in Clay, Woodcarving
  • Alfonso Umana: Weaving
  • Lecturers: include Amedee Ozenfant, Meyer Schapiro, Max Wertheimer, and Paul Zucker.

Alexey Brodovitch (1898-1971), legendary art director for Harper's Bazaar and his own landmark magazine Portfolio, passionate teacher of graphic design, advocate of photography and collaborator with many prominent photographers, is often credited with having a major influence on the acceptance of European modernism in America.

"Astonish me!" was Brodovitch's often quoted exhortation to students attending his "Design Laboratory" classes over the years. Though borrowing "étonnez-moi!" from the Russian ballet master Sergei Diaghilev, with this charge, Brodovitch indeed set in motion the application of the modernist ethos to American graphic design and photography.

Considering the number of artists, photographers and designers who claim Brodovitch as a mentor, the historical importance of this document cannot be overstated.

From the library of Arnold Roston, a commercial artist and NYC-based art director who was very active in both the AIGA and NYC ADC, as well as holding teaching and administrative positions at Pratt and the Cooper Union. Roston worked for the Office of War information after studying under Alexey Brodovitch at the New School for Social Research. Mr. Roston passed away in December, 2005.

Price: $250.00
Domestic Shipping: $10.00
PayPal Secure Payment