Sadly, in later editions, this was removed and replaced by a fonta rather illfitting akzidenzgrotesk bold. Elaine lustig cohen 19272016 artforum international. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and. His method was to read a text and get the feel of the author s creative drive, then to restate it in his own graphic terms, wrote james laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig print, vol. Legacy throughout his career, alvin lustig designed book jackets using his personal vision and modern forms. The first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the 1941 edition of henry millers wisdom of the heart was quite unlike anything then in vogue, but it scarcely hinted at the extraordinary flowering which was to follow. Pioneering graphic designer, artist and archivist, elaine lustig cohen is recognized for her body of design work integrating european avantgarde and modernist influences into a distinctly american, midcentury manner of typographic communication. The american graphic designer alvin lustig 19151955 was inspired by the fine arts of his time, so his work reveals much about both design and art of the 1930s, forties, and fifties. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books, 1947. Alvin lustig with the current interest in american design history, it is fitting that alvin lustig be honored for his significant influence on american design and design education. The first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the 1941. Alvin lustig book jacket for a streetcar named desire, 1947. Elaine lustig cohen, wife of alvin lustig, is a book and jacket designer and artist.
May 08, 20 all photos courtesy of elaine lustig cohen. The august, september, and october advertisementsthough similar in style to lustigs workwere not made by him, the november advertisement was attributed to rj wolff, and the december issue repeated a previous lustig design. Dustjacket book cover illustration, which came into its own in the 1920s, has long. These started in 1939 when he met publisher james laughlin, they became good friends and lustig designed dozens of covers through the forties and fifties for laughlins imprints, fiftyfour, in color, are included in the book with six covers for. While his recognition lies mainly in the realm of book jacket design. With the current interest in american design history, it is fitting that alvin lustig be honored for his significant influence on american design and design education. Lustig believed it was a medium which could reach a wider and less elitist audience than conventional. Oscar wilde book jacket design by alvin lustig by scott lindberg, via covering book cover alvin lustig cover vintage book cover custom logo design from dapper paper book cover edouard roditi in the series the makers of modern literature. His book jackets for new directions spoke to me in the way intriguing album artwork did. Jul 23, 2009 tucked in the history of new directions book designers, book ended by alvin lustig on one side and rodrigo corral on the other, are four jacket designs by none other the legendary artist andy warhol. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig rit press rit. See more ideas about books, reading and alvin lustig.
Alvin lustig february 8, 1915 december 5, 1955 was an american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer. She is best known for her work as a graphic designer during the 1950s and 60s, having created over 150 designs for book covers and museum catalogs. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design, magazines, letterheads, catalogs, signage, furniture and lighting. Cover art cubism cooper hewitt, smithsonian design museum. In his poetic book covers of the 1940s, he remade the visual. Elaine lustig cohen, artist, graphic designer, and aiga medalist known for her book jackets, exhibition catalogues, and pioneering typographic works, has died at the age of eightynine. The close relationship between lustigs work and fine art allows design historians to turn to art historical writing for help in analyzing lustigs work. Lustig kept his hand in graphic design, continuing to produce quantities of book jackets for the new directions, knopf and noonday presses during the 1940s and 50s. His playful book covers caught my attention and spoke to me of an element that is perhaps missing in my own studio work. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles. Back in 2006, i had been asked to get in touch with the estate regarding his jacket designs for new directions. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions booksfrom the collection of letterform archive.
And, later this year, alvin lustig and elaines book jacket and book cover designs will be exhibited at the college of visual arts, saint paul, minnesota. Jan mlodozeniec cover design for john steinbecks the pearl poland design. Anatomy for interior designers by julus panero whitney library of design, 1954 illustrator. Alvin designed the first 25 and elaine went on to do more than 100 more. Best book covers vintage book covers beautiful book covers book cover art book cover design book design book art evelyn waugh cool books alvin lustig s contributions to the design of books and book jackets, magazines, interiors, and textiles as well as his teachings would have made him a credible candidate for the aiga lifetime achievement. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book jacket and graphic design. Laughlin, was a progressive publisher with an intuitive understanding of the artistic graphic design, who commissioned lustig to create book jackets for such important thinkers as henry miller, gertrude stein, d. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles of continue reading. Lustig was a renowned twentiethcentury graphic designer and a design hero of mine. The makers of modern literature, first edition, 1941 book jacket design by alvin lustig b. Dec 22, 2017 we are cautioned to avoid judging a book by its cover, yet that is precisely what publishers hope we will do. For him, the designer was not a singleminded specialist, but an integrator of many art.
I am in awe of all of his book covers, and it is hard to single out one cover but, for me, this iconic design stands the test of time. Yep, andy warhol worked for new directions as a book designer off and on for almost 10 years. A season of hell by arthur rimbaud 18541891, the precocious boypoet of french symbolism. Alvin lustig brought modern art into american bookshops. Fifties designer alvin lustig s book jackets provide inspiration for painted walls and floors. From new directions, alvin lustig is again the designer of a contrasting black and white on a hellishred cover while the artist keith vaughan 19121977, from the stable of john lehmann, delivers a more somber design. The illustrated dust jacket, 19201970 by martin salisbury, chronicles how this once disposable object became a major creative force in publishing. While particularly admired for his book jacket designs, lustig designed many other items, including invitations for the several beverly hills high school commencements. Lustig and williams, a selfexpressive graphic designer and a painterly writer, respectively, are a particularly complimentary pair, of the many authors whose work lustig visually rendered.
Gazing at the bold and colorful use of art and typography in each cover, i found myself wanting to read all of the books in the collection. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Alvin lustigs book jacket designs part 1 on behance. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about alvin. Charles rosnerthe growth of the book jacket 19541st ed, alvin lustig jacket. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0 graphic design archi here is a colorful and wellresearched representation of alvin lustig s book cover designs that were created primarily for new directions books and noonday press, among others. Alvin lustig s distinctive handrendered lettering was a key pictorial feature of the early editions of this striking jacket design. Bookjackets by alvin lustig gotham book mart, 1947. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book cover design and book design.
Lustig s distinctive handrendered lettering was a key pictorial feature. I discovered lustigs work as a teenager in the early 1990s. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a book s contents, with. Revolutionizing the approach to book cover design in the lustig would attempt to get a sense of the writers direction from reading the book and then translate it. Lustig immersed himself in all aspects of design, including architecture. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book cover design and cover design. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design, magazines, letterheads, catalogs, signage, furniture and lighting, textiles, interior. The 19 jackets have been trimmed with threesided bleeds and spine typography intact. In discussions of values in art the positiveness of his assertions occasionally. Jun 03, 2018 alvin lustigs contributions to the design of books and book jackets, magazines, interiors, and textiles as well as his teachings would have made him a credible candidate for the aiga lifetime achievement award when he was alive. He also studied design independently with american architect frank lloyd wright at his taliesin studio. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine lustig cohen. Lustigs first jacket for laughlin, a 1941 edition of henry millers wisdom of the heart, eclipsed the jacket designs of previous new directions books, which laughlin described as conservative and booky.
In 1944 he became director of visual research for look magazine. Preface by new directions publisher james laughlin and statement by the designer alvin lustig followed by 19 original dust jackets. Alvin lustig believed in the power of design when applied to all aspects of life. Each new classics book jacket lustig created had its own unique character. In her artist s statement, cohen said, my life as an artist has been shaped by two passions. Alvin lustig gets an impressive eightyeight page look at his book jackets for new directions. Those jackets helped distinguish her more freeform style from alvins lateperiod precisionist approach. With his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. Alvin lustig s contributions to the design of books and book jackets, magazines, interiors, and textiles as well as his teachings would have made him a credible candidate for the aiga lifetime achievement award when he was alive. Alvin lustig believed that painting was dead and that design would emerge as a primary art form. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Alvin lustigs distinctive handrendered lettering was a key pictorial feature of the early editions of this striking jacket design. Aug 20, 2015 new directions is a series of small sculptures by mexican artist edgar orlaineta. As publisher of new directions, laughlin hired lustig in the early 1940s.
Anatomy for interior designers 1st 1948 original dust jacket by alvin lustig. I decided to research lustigs work in the form of a blog post. Each cover displayed an artistic unity where even the book s title and author. Purity of aim the book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0. Alvin lustig papers, 19351955 archives of american art. Alvin lustig graphic designer vv published in us in 2014 by studio art ff. Beverly hills high school commencement, 1942 philately in europe brochure, 1939 incantation, textile design, 1947 via see it in fa. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of lustig s book cover designs that were created primarily for new directions books and noonday press, among others lustig used the book cover as a vehicle of his bold graphic experimentation that was enhanced by a lifelong collaboration with james laughlin, founder and publisher of new. It was rather stiff and severe a nonrepresentational construction made from little pieces of type metal chosen from the cases in the experimental printing shop he had set up.
In 1937, lustig initiated his professional career designing book jackets. Amerika by franz kafka was designed by alvin lustig for new directions books in 1946. Hyperallergic lushly illustrated, salisburys exciting visual history showcases the work of edward gorey, vanessa bell, alvin lustig, and many others. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a books contents, with. Around the same time, arthur cohen, book publisher and the lustigs best friend, insisted that elaine design meridian books new line of paperbacks. Lawrence and james joyce, and he gave the artist the freedom to experiment and develop his personal style in a fertile ground for. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books, 1947 publisher. At the time, lustig was experimenting with nonrepresentational constructions made form slugs of metal typographic material, revealing the influence of frank lloyd wright, with whom he studied for three. Lustig has been honored by the american institute of graphic arts and the art. Her work has played a significant role in the evolution of american modernist graphic design, integrating european avantgarde with. The late 1940s saw the development of lustig s architectural and interior design practice, and a number of industrial design commissions for lighting fixtures, fabrics and furniture. Jan mlodozeniec, 1956 alvin lustig, beautiful book design charley harper illustration from a biology book edward and the horse olle eksell vintag. Published by the gotham book mart press 1947 with statements by james laughlin and alvin lustig artist. Biography an introduction about alvin lustig and his lifetime.
His method was to read a text and get the feel of the authors creative drive, then to restate it in his own graphic terms, wrote james laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig print, vol. Alvin lustig 19151955 changed the look of book jackets in the mid 40s through his practical application of modern art and modern. By the time he died at the age of 40 in 1955, he had already introduced principles of modern art to graphic design. Alvin lustig s restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. As publisher of new directions, laughlin hired lustig in the early 1940s and gave him the. How to take care of a really cool book jacket by poetry. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga. So, her creative journey endures, what is great about being an artist painter, designer, sculptor, photographer or in other visual media is that throughout your life you can keep opening doors that you never knew existed. From the book jackets of alvin lustig by james laughlin, print magazine, octnov 1956 the first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the 1941 edition of henry millers wisdom of the heart was quite unlike anything then in. I first met the artist and designer elaine lustig cohen through the website dedicated to her former husband, the legendary designer alvin lustig. These started in 1939 when he met publisher james laughlin, they became good friends and lustig designed dozens of covers through the forties and fifties for laughlins imprints, fiftyfour, in color, are included in the book with six covers for other publishers. Alvin lustig california, usa alvin lustig had the skill and artistry needed to become a successful painter, but he chose to dedicate much of his life to breaking down and creating anew the conventions of design in the book cover industry. Dec 07, 2015 while researching for my annotated bibliography, i discovered the work of alvin lustig. He further rejected the typical cover design that summarized a book through one generalized image.
Alvin lustig 19151955, elaine lustig cohen 19272016. Oct 21, 2017 alvin lustigs restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. A gifted designer whose work included graphics, packaging, typography, architecture and interiors, alvin lustig brought his inimitable style to knoll for a short but impactful moment in the thennascent companys history. Art directors share their alltime favourite book covers. His career highlights include numerous book jackets for new directions and noonday press. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer 19151955. Alvin lustig believed that painting was dead and that design. This 1948 jacket for william carlos williams book length poem paterson was designed by alvin lustig for new directions publishings new classics series, a collection of reprints of modern literature. It is sure to trigger pangs of belletristic acquisitiveness and perhaps even launch you on a new book buying addictionyet even the most dedicated collector will find it difficult to match the quality of the books displayed in this design show. Born in 1915, alvin lustig grew up in denver, colorado. Alvin lustig graphic designer whatever the medium, he could make it do things, make it extend itself under the prodding of his imagination. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and.