BYT A UMENI
Volume 2, No. 1, 1931
F. Hala [Editor]
F. Hala [Editor]: BYT A UMENI [Revue Pro Soucasnou Bytovou Kulturu]. Prague: "Mars" [Fikejz a Kusak], 1931. Original edition [Volume 2, No. 1, 1931]. Text in Czech. Slim quarto. Side-stitched in perfect bound thick photographically printed wrappers. 32 pp. Black and white photographs. 1 color plate [with tissue guard]. 16 pp. of text articles and period advertisements. Wrappers uniformly rubbed with mild soiling to spine edges. Textblock thumbed. A very good copy. Rare. 9 x 12 side-stitched journal with 32 pages of gorgeous black and white photography and 16 pages of text and period Decorative Arts trade advertisments. Published in Prague for only three years [1930 - 1932] BYT A UMENI concentrated on presenting the best achievements in White Functional design in these areas: Architektura Vnitrni Zarizeni [Architecture Interior Furnishing]; Malirstvi [Painting]; Plastika [Sculpture]; Umelecky Prumysl [Applied Arts]; Rucni Prace [Handmade]; Starozitnosti [Antiques]; Vystavy [Exhibitions] and Aukce [Auctions].
Contents:
- New Architecture in Holland by Theo van Doesburg
- Residential Culture of Swedenincludes work by Carl Horvik, Sven Markelius, Kurt von Schmalensee, Erik Freberger, Nils Einar Eriksson, E. Sundhal and O. Thunstrom.
- Portfolio of Prague Interiorsincludes work by Jos. Vorel, J. Hesoun, F. Kratsky, Muhlstein-Furth, Caivas A Weiss, and Cermak.
- Illuminationincludes contemporary lamp designs by Ing. M. Prokop, Franta Anyz and Jos. Vorel.
- Attempts of Environmental Architecture in Belgium by Emile Henvaux
- Sculpture by H. Kaufmann, Bretislav Benda, Jiri Duchacek
- Paintings by Emil Filla and Atelier Le Foyer.
- Vase by Prof. J. Bryehta.
- Color plate [with tissue guard] by Jos. Navratil.
- The Modern Home: column devoted to contemporary appliances. This issue featured vacuum cleaners!
The years between 1917 [the entrance of the USA into the World War, the October Revolution and the launch of De Stijl] and 1930 [the second economic crisis, the success of CIAM in Frankfurt and Brussels] are considered the "heroic age" of modern architecture. During this time, the images, language and manifestos of the International Avant-Garde were codified and transmitted primarily through independently produced journals and "little magazines." BYT A UMENI showcased Prague and the rest of Czechoslavakia as a hotbed of functional design, from International Style buildings and interiors, to bent metal furniture and a blossoming avant-garde plastic arts scene.
The culture of the new-founded state of Czechoslovakia after the First World War was orientated and inspired by the Avant-Garde in the major cities of Europe, especially Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam. The short-lived national movement in architecture termed rondo-cubism was later replaced by the new spirit of White Functionalism, which dominated Czechoslovakian architecture until the beginning of the Second World War and which has subsequently come to be seen as one of the most interesting, though often overlooked, contributions to the International Style.
Spreads from this volume can be viewed here.
out of stock