Meridian books, thirteenth printing may a later printing, with the. One of his most memorable masterpieces is that of the book cover, lorca. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity and print. 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. 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.
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. Alvin lustigs distinctive handrendered lettering was a key pictorial feature of the early editions of this striking jacket design. Between 1951 and 1955, lustig designed approximately 26 book covers for the publisher. 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.
In 1944 he became director of visual research for book jackets of alvin lustig by james laughlin, new directions 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. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for the wanderer by alain fournier, new directions books, 1947. Six months ago, i wrote to steven heller about an idea i had for a book on the subject of designer alvin lustig. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity. I asked if he would write the introductory essay, outlining lustigs role in modern design history. He always felt the title graphic designer was too limiting, and its clear why. 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. 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. Magooeven a helicopteralvin lustig designed all of them. For his valuable contribution to graphic design two of the most prestigious american art clubs honored him with the accolades. Alvin lustig papers, 19351955 archives of american art.
Between 1941 and 1952, lustig produced one masterpiece after another stylized, fragmented, some combining multiple photographs, others drawn by hand in glorious abstraction. I discovered lustigs work as a teenager in the early 1990s. Lustig created monuments of ingenuity and objects of aesthetic pleasure. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books, 1947. Alvin lustig biography alvin lustig was a renowned twentieth century graphic designer.
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. In fact, we used to go around to bookstores and line them up. The opportunity to design this series of book jackets was an unusual one. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles of. Instead of making book jackets that tried summarizing the book, he would read it and gain a sense of what the writer was trying to portray and put that in an image. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles of continue reading. 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. Mar 06, 2012 alvin lustig was an american graphic designer, typeface designer and teacher. His career highlights include numerous book jackets for new directions and noonday press. Each of his allencompassing book covers had a life and character of its own, focusing on more than just one general image.
I can imagine something like this on a fantastic blouse or skirt. The alvin lustig archive 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. If you would like to look deeper into his life and work, visit the alvin lustig archive, dedicated to him. Alvin lustig was a renowned twentieth century graphic designer.
See more ideas about alvin lustig, book design and book cover design. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine lustig cohen. Not surprisingly, it turned out steve was already working on a biography formatted like a. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and well researched representation of lustigs book cover designs that were created primarily. Jun 17, 2015 instead of making book jackets that tried summarizing the book, he would read it and gain a sense of what the writer was trying to portray and put that in an image. When alvin designed the first meridians there were few quality paperbacks. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a books contents, with. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig graphic design archives chapbook 9781933360485. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine.
The golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. Bookjackets for new directions books alvin lustig on amazon. 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 lustigs restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design.
Five questions with steven heller about alvin lustig. The archive collects over 400 examples of his book. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig rit press rit. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design, magazines, letterheads, catalogs, signage. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal. Through collecting, preserving, and providing access to our collections, the archives inspires new ways of interpreting the visual arts in america and allows current and future generations to piece together the nations rich artistic and cultural heritage. 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. Sadly, in later editions, this was removed and replaced by a fonta rather illfitting akzidenzgrotesk bold. 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. It stands out with its symbolic acuity, compositional strength and typographic. Aug 20, 2015 new directions is a series of small sculptures by mexican artist edgar orlaineta. Readers of print may remember steves homage to lustig from the janfeb 2004 issue. Nov 23, 2017 the golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. After the time of world war ii, new directions developed a close relationship with the artist alvin lustig, who designed modernist abstract book jackets.
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. Amazing illustrative and colorful book covers by one of our favorite designers. Alvin lustig was an american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer. Alvin lustig, 1946 all book covers for new directions, unless otherwise noted. His book jackets for new directions spoke to me in the way intriguing album artwork did. Magazines, interiors, book jackets, packaging, fabrics, hotels, mall signage, the opening credits of the cartoon mr. Book cover of illumination by alvin lustig using a very highbrightness color palette conveys a sense of shining to the audience that is fit to the book title. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of lustigs book cover designs that were created primarily.
The alvin lustig archive includes over 400 designs from this important modern american design pioneer. Lustig also received the aiga medal from the american institution of graphic arts 1993, being one of the most influential american graphic artists. Alvin lustig believed that painting was dead and that design would emerge as a primary art form. Feb 22, 2018 alvin lustigs distinctive handrendered lettering was a key pictorial feature of the early editions of this striking jacket design. Forsters the longest journey book cover design by alvin lustig. Todays inspiration comes from american book designer, graphic designer and typeface 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. James laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig had this to say about lustig. May 17, 2011 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. May 20, 20 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 modern american designer pioneer ehehr1955s. Each cover displayed an artistic unity where even the books title and author.
Oct 21, 2017 alvin lustigs restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. In his poetic book covers of the 1940s, he remade the visual. 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. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about alvin. Post 1 by nat kiryk alvin lustig graphic design history. 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.
Lustig was ultimately responsible for developing a distinctive style of dust jacket that served as a new directions hallmark for many years. Nov 08, 2018 alvin lustigs book cover design for the man who died. He began designing book covers in 1937 and revolutionized the approach to book cover design in the 1940s. In addition, the tensile illustration makes the composition impressive. Alvin lustig february 8, 1915 december 5, 1955 was an american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account. He illustrated the book covers of eminent literary figures, for instance, james joyce, ezra pound, william carlos williams and gertrude stein. Jason gabbert 1 the book jacktes of alvin lustig by james laughlin, new directions print magazine, octnov 1956 2 born modern by steven heller eye magazine 1993, vol. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for the wanderer by alain.
Alvin lustig was an american graphic designer, typeface designer and teacher. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer books. Lustig was a modernist designer who partook in nearly all disciplines of design we, of course, focus on the book jackets. Alvin lustigs contributions to the design of books and book jackets.
Each cover displayed an artistic unity where even the books title and author became. At the time he was looking at 19th century type, says elaine. With his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. Following his death, lustig was awarded several honorable mentions, including his initiation at the art directors hall of fame. 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. 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. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0 graphic design archives chapbook series. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
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