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. Yet over the years, elaine and i have teamed together in promoting the legacy of alvin lustig. At once seductive, informative, and ephemeral, a book jacket is designed to evoke and promote the contents of a book. Alvin lustigs book jacket designs part 1 on behance. He also studied design independently with american architect frank lloyd wright at his taliesin studio. The first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the 1941. Jan 06, 2009 a few days ago, i remembered that i liked design observera collective blog that occasionally includes posts from the great steven heller. Lustig used the book cover as a vehicle of his bold graphic experimentation that was enhanced by a lifelong collaboration with james laughlin. 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 communication. Born in 1915, alvin lustig grew up in denver, colorado. This may, new directions will issue an alvin lustig postcard collection. 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.
The book jacket designs of alvin lustig rit press rit. He was in the vanguard of a relatively small group who fervently, indeed religiously, believed in the curative power of good design when applied to all aspects of american life. 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. Design by lustig for new directions books edition of the play by tennessee williams, featuring a minimalist depiction of a man and two women on a lilac ba alvin lustig book jacket for a streetcar named desire, 1947, from the alvin lustig papers, 19351955 archives of american art, smithsonian institution. Modern american design pioneer alvin lustig messerwerferin. Alvin lustig february 8, 1915 december 5, 1955 was an american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer. Alvin lustig brought modern art into american bookshops.
Biography an introduction about alvin lustig and his lifetime. Beyond the mountains book jacket by alvin lustig via scott lindberg by alvin lustig 1951 book cover book art look at these things book cover covered books another simplequietly dynamicbeautiful cover, this time for kenneth rexroths beyond the mountains. Oct 21, 2017 alvin lustigs restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. A student of frank lloyd wright, among others, alvin lustig had a very successful career in graphic design and art direction.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. May 14, 2012 alvin lustig introduced principles of modern art to graphic design that have had a longterm influence on contemporary practice. He further rejected the typical cover design that summarized a book through one generalized image. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal, models how personal vision wedded to modern form. Best book covers vintage book covers design graphique art graphique buch design book jacket poetry books literature books expo. Each cover displayed an artistic unity where even the books title and author became simply. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig by ned drew 20100901 ned drew. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about this site. Book jacket modernism art director packaging layout type books design livros. Cover by alvin lustig, american graphic designer and typeface designer. Revolutionizing the approach to book cover design in the 1940s, lustig would attempt to get a sense of the writers direction from reading the book and then translate it into his own graphic style. Preface by alvin lustig the opportunity to design this series of book jackets was an unusual one. Alvin lustig alvin lustig s restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design.
Lustig has been honored by the american institute of graphic arts and the art directors club hall of fame for his significant contributions to american design. Alvin lustig graphic designer whatever the medium, he could make it do things, make it extend itself under the prodding of his imagination. James laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig had this to say about lustig. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig graphic design archives chapbook at. In discussions of values in art the positiveness of his assertions occasionally. For more info and to start ordering, choose your shipping destination below. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his. Lustig has been honored by the american institute of graphic arts and the art. 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 vogue, but it scarcely hinted at the extraordinary flowering which was to follow. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book jacket and graphic design. Alvin lustig papers, 19351955 archives of american art. 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. Get the best deals on alvin lustig when you shop the largest online selection at. So, her creative journey endures, what is great about being an artist painter, designer, sculptor, photographer or in other visual.
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. 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. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles. 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. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books, 1947. 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. By the time he died at the age of 40 in 1955, he had already introduced principles of modern art to graphic design. Now available, 4 of our favorite new directions, new classics series book jackets, beautifully designed by alvin lustig as limited edition, fine art screen prints in an edition of 100. Anatomy for interior designers by julus panerowhitney library of design, 1954illustrator.
Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga. Alvin lustig believed that painting was dead and that design. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Each has had major individual exhibitions, alvin at the walker art center in 1950 and at the museum of modern art in 1955. 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. Alvin lustig book cover design, vintage book covers, book. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for the wanderer by alain fournier, new directions books, book cover from 2004 books with alvin lustig dust jackets calligraphy alphabet by twentysixletters street art utopia. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a books contents, with. Charles rosnerthe growth of the book jacket 19541st ed, alvin lustig jacket. For him, the designer was not a singleminded specialist, but an integrator of many art. 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. In his poetic book covers of the 1940s, he remade the visual.
His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a book s contents, with handrendered lettering. Fifties designer alvin lustigs book jackets provide inspiration for painted walls and floors. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine. There is nothing in the book world today which compares with them for color, for variety, for life, for appeal to the intelligence. It is obvious that the series of jacket designs which alvin lustig has made for my new classics books is a constant pleasure to the eye. The golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book design and book cover design. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer books. Sep 14, 2012 according to lustig cohen, the exhibition marks the first time that their work has been shown side by side. His career highlights include numerous book jackets for new directions and noonday press. Elaine at the cooper hewitt, national design museum, in 1995. Sep 22, 2015 each of his allencompassing book covers had a life and character of its own, focusing on more than just one general image. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine lustig cohen.
Alvin lustig alvin lustig, book jacket, graphic design. Anyway, there was a post or a link or some other worm hole a few months ago that led to a flickr page of book covers designed by alvin lustig for new directions in the late 1940s. With his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book. Nov 23, 2017 the golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. Preface by new directions publisher james laughlin and statement by the designer alvin lustig followed by 19 original dust jackets. The 19 jackets have been trimmed with threesided bleeds and spine typography intact. Other repository surveys art related archival materials located in other libraries and repositories. Lustig used the book cover as a vehicle of his bold graphic experimentation. Book is from the new classics sfgirlbybay bohemian modern style from a san francisco girl alvin lustig cover from the. May 17, 2011 alvin lustig modern american designer pioneer posted by ehehr1955 on may 17, 2011 leave a comment 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. Alvin lustig book cover design, vintage book covers. Alvin lustig graphic designer vv published in us in 2014 by studio art ff. Alvin lustig believed that painting was dead and that design would emerge as a primary art form. Alvin lustig modern american designer pioneer ehehr1955s.
Aug 20, 2015 new directions is a series of small sculptures by mexican artist edgar orlaineta. Screen printed with care by master printer, luther davis at axelle fine art, brooklyn, ny. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal, models how personal vision wedded to modern form can significantly impact the. May 27, 2012 born modern by steven heller eye magazine 1993, vol. 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.
Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions booksfrom the collection of letterform archive. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions books. Associate professor paul sternberger received his ph. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal, models how personal vision wedded to modern form can significantly impact the public sphere. Each cover displayed an artistic unity where even the books title and author became. Alvin lustig 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. Graphic, architectural, and book designer, new york. 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. 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 gets an impressive eightyeight page look at his book jackets for new directions. Many of new directions classic titles now proudly wear their original lustig jackets. With his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about alvin.
Rarely is the graphic designer given the chance to act upon what he considers his highest level upon a problem of serious intentions. Alvin lustig book jacket for a streetcar named desire. When elaine lustig cohen assumed ownership of her husbands midtown manhattan design practice after he died at the. Between 1941 and 1952, lustig produced one masterpiece after another stylized, fragmented, some combining multiple photographs, others drawn by hand in glorious abstraction. May 20, 20 with his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. Purity of aim the book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0. 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. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity and print.
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