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 the previous trend was to summarize the book with one image. Charles rosnerthe growth of the bookjacket 19541st ed, alvin lustig jacket. He illustrated the book covers of eminent literary figures, for instance, james joyce, ezra pound, william carlos williams and gertrude stein. His career highlights include numerous book jackets for new directions and noonday press. Alvin lustig is one of our alltime favorite designers. Alvin lustig biography alvin lustig was a renowned twentieth century graphic designer. Lustig, alongside paul rand, greatly furthered the american modernist school of design, albeit in a highly personal and individualist way. 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. 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. 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. Oct 21, 2017 alvin lustigs restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. The back of the book has a portfolio of six designers including my favorites, alvin lustig and paul rand.
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. Legacy throughout his career, alvin lustig designed book jackets using his personal vision and modern forms. Lustig created monuments of ingenuity and objects of aesthetic pleasure. 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. Amazing illustrative and colorful book covers by one of our favorite designers. Back in 2006, i had been asked to get in touch with the estate regarding his jacket designs for new directions. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig rit press rit. Charles rosnerthe growth of the book jacket 19541st ed, alvin lustig jacket. 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. Subsequently, look magazine offered him a position as the director of their visual research department, in 1944. Updating a famous type anomaly from aiga medalists alvin.
May 27, 2012 born modern by steven heller eye magazine 1993, vol. May 17, 2011 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, modern american design pioneer books. She is a living link between designs modernist past and its continually changing present.
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 directions books. The alvin lustig archive 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. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions books. 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. Alvin lustig book jacket for a streetcar named desire. Aug 20, 2015 new directions is a series of small sculptures by mexican artist edgar orlaineta. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book jacket and graphic design.
Modern american design pioneer alvin lustig messerwerferin. Rarely is the graphic designer given the chance to act upon what he considers his highest level upon a problem of serious intentions. 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. Between 1941 and 1952, lustig produced one masterpiece after another stylized, fragmented, some combining multiple photographs, others drawn by hand in glorious abstraction. Lustig was a modernist designer who partook in nearly all disciplines of design we, of course, focus on the book jackets. See more ideas about book cover design, graphic design, best book covers. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig graphic design archives chapbook at. The golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. The opportunity to design this series of book jackets was an unusual one. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books, 1947.
There is nothing in the book world today which compares with them for color, for variety, for life, for appeal to the intelligence. A student of frank lloyd wright, among others, alvin lustig had a very successful career in graphic design and art direction. The illustrated dust jacket, 19201970 by martin salisbury, chronicles how this once disposable object became a major creative force in publishing. 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. Lustig immersed himself in all aspects of design, including architecture. 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. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and well researched representation of lustigs book cover designs that were created primarily. Alvin lustig modern american designer pioneer ehehr1955s. Alvin lustig believed in the power of design when applied to all aspects of life. Part of a big find this afternoon of several early alvin. Formal compositional elements alluded to the content emotionally, never designing. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a books contents, with. 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.
His book jackets and covers in particular still influence the contemporary approach some 65 years later. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about alvin. There is a designer and title index, someting that was sadly missing from the great american. With his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. Hyperallergic lushly illustrated, salisburys exciting visual history showcases the work of edward gorey, vanessa bell, alvin lustig, and many others. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design, magazines, letterheads, catalogs, signage. For more info and to start ordering, choose your shipping destination below.
In contrast the covers in jackets required are bursting with creativity, the chapter on nonfiction has some particularly striking designs. Alvin lustig s amazing talent for creating visual narratives that captured the imagination inspired me to handcraft and faithfully reproduce 14 book jacket designs originally created by alvin lustig for the new classics series published by new directions. Each cover displayed an artistic unity where even the books title and author became. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Nov 23, 2017 the golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. Lustig achieved so much in so little time, he lost his sight at age 39 due to diabetes and passed away only a. Alvin lustig, 1946 all book covers for new directions, unless otherwise noted. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal. Each print is 2color with an image size of 11w x 15 34h printed on 16w x 20h paper individually stamped and numbered by hand in an edition of 100. The book jackets of alvin lustig by alvin lustig, paul spencer sternberger and ned drew 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions booksfrom the collection of letterform archive. 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. 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. 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. New directions publishing published several of tennessee williams plays and lustig was the one who designed the book jackets for the first edition of williams work. He designed more than seventy dust jackets for the new classics literary series from 1945 until his death in. For his valuable contribution to graphic an alvin lustig dust jacket design. 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.
Jan 23, 2020 todays book jacket designs featuring abstract ideas, minimal text, and realistic illustrations can be traced directly to american designer alvin lustig s mediumbreaking cover for the 1949 paperback lorca. 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. From the book jackets of alvin lustig by james laughlin, print magazine, octnov 1956. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a book s contents, with. 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. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles of continue reading. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig graphic design archives chapbook 9781933360485. 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. James laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig had this to say about lustig. Alvin lustigs book jacket designs part 1 on behance. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book jacket and cover design. May 20, 20 with his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. Pioneering graphic designer, artist and archivist, elaine lustig cohen 19272016 is recognized for her body of design work integrating european avantgarde and modernist influences into a distinctly american, midcentury manner of communication. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
It is sure to trigger pangs of belletristic acquisitiveness and perhaps even launch you on a new bookbuying addictionyet even the most dedicated collector will find it difficult to match the quality of the books displayed in this design show. The alvin lustig archive includes over 400 designs from this important modern american design pioneer. Alvin lustig february 8, 1915 december 5, 1955 was an american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer. 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, the book jackets of alvin lustig, print, vol.
Purity of aim the book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig by ned drew 20100901 ned drew. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity. Alvin lustig s book covers i was killing some time in south congress books the other day and the clerk showed me some original new directions books with these alvin lustig covers and they really. Alvin lustigs contributions to the design of books and book jackets. I first met the artist and designer elaine lustig cohen through the website dedicated to her former husband, the legendary designer alvin lustig. 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. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book design and book cover design.
By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles. Each new classics book jacket lustig created had its own unique character. 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. 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. Forster new directions alvin lustig dust jacket artist.
The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of lustigs book cover designs that were created primarily. Beverly hills high school commencement, 1942 philately in europe brochure, 1939 incantation, textile design, 1947 via see it in fa. 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. May 14, 2012 alvin lustig introduced principles of modern art to graphic design that have had a longterm influence on contemporary practice. Lustig maintained a successful professional relationship with new directions publishing for almost a decade, producing some of his most iconic and innovative work for the independent publishing company. Bookjackets for new directions books alvin lustig on. Alvin lustig gets an impressive eightyeight page look at his book jackets for new directions. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity and print. 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, and covers for several periodicals including fortune magazine. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about this site.
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