LETTERS FROM THE AVANT-GARDE:
MODERN GRAPHIC DESIGN
Ellen Lupton and Elaine Lustig Cohen

[Graphic Design] Ellen Lupton and Elaine Lustig Cohen: LETTERS FROM THE AVANT-GARDE: MODERN GRAPHIC DESIGN. Princeton: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996. First edition. A Very Fine softcover book in stiff, printed wrappers.

This is one of the coolest Graphic Design books I have ever seen. Did you ever wonder what El Lissitzky's letterhead looked like? How about Ladislav Sutnar? Or Lester Beall? George Nelson? Will Burtin? Alvin Lustig? They're all here-- or at least their stationery is. The letterhead, notecards, envelopes, etc. reproduced in this volume from the collections of Elaine Lustig Cohen and other sources are truly incredible: my highest recommendation.

10.7 x 8.2 softcover book with 128 pages and 120 color plates and 50 b/w illustrations. Letters from the Avant-Garde presents designs for business ephemera-including stationery, envelopes, postcards, and business cards-created by F. T. Marinetti, André Breton, Herbert Bayer, Kurt Schwitters, El Lissitzky, Mies van der Rohe, Jan Tschichold, Ladislav Sutnar, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, and many others.

Working in Europe and the U.S. between 1909 and 1950, these designers used printed stationery to project the public identities of avant-garde movements to an international community, disseminating modernist theory and practice around the globe via the postal service. Critical essays show how artists and designers mobilized the techniques of commercial communication to promote their ideals and ambitions. Gathered together for the first time, the materials presented in this book are typographic self-portraits of the most influential people and institutions in the development of modern design.

An invaluable resource for all those interested in graphic design, typography, and the history of modernism.

Includes ephemera (letterhead, envelopes, business and note cards) designed by the following artists: Willi Baumeister, herbert Bayer, lester Beall, Henrik Berlewi, Andre Breton, Max Burchartz, Will Burtin, Pierre Chareau, Le Corbusier, Theo van Doesburg, Sonia Delaunay, Fortunato Depero, Walter Dexel, Cesar Domela, Lyonel Feininger, Raoul Hausmann, Vilmos Huszar, Lajos Kassak, E. Mcknight Kauffer, El Lissitzky, Alvin lustig, F.T. Marinetti, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Bruno Munari, George Nelson, Hans Richter,Alexander Rodchenko, Joost Schmidt, Paul Schuitema, Kurt Schwitters, Lasislav Sutnar, Jan Tschichold, Otto Wagner, H. N. Wekman, Piet Zwart and others.

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