See the production process in detail as presented to the columbia publishing course. These dust jackets could remain on the book when it was opened, providing protection for volumes even as they were read. A colorful history of judging books by their covers. New book is a colorful history of judging a book by its cover. A colorful history of judging books by their covers the. The edition of a room with a view i favor is the the copy below from my own book shelves. 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. Between 1941 and 1952, lustig produced one masterpiece after another stylized. A series of series 20thcentury publishers book series. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions booksfrom the collection of letterform archive. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but dust jackets have had an important place in literary history. Highly decorated book covers and jackets are artistically compelling and they sell books.
Named desire, with modernprimitivist art by alvin lustig. Dec 30, 2017 new book is a colorful history of judging a book by its cover. Each new classics book jacket lustig created had its own unique character. With the rise in ereaders, book jacket design is rumored to become a lost art. From margaret atwoods hagseed to han kangs the vegetarian, the most eyecatching and imaginative cover art of the year. Alvin lustig lustig uses contemporary design in his practice. Among these pioneering modernists was elaine lustig cohen b. The art of classic book covers alvin lustig, book covers, carter burden.
The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of lustig s book cover designs that were created primarily. Salisburys book shows that the greatest jackets tint our experiences of the books they grace. Dec 22, 2017 book jackets are, admittedly, a peculiar art. I know that a lot of people didnt like this book, but i just love it. His career highlights include numerous book jackets for new directions and noonday press.
According to lustig cohen, the exhibition marks the first time that their work has been shown side by side. Is this the greatest cover for fahrenheit 451 youve ever seen. New book is a colorful history of judging a book by its. Cover by alvin lustig alvin lustig was an innovative pioneer in developing american graphic design during the and lustigs early work in the late reflects his training with frank lloyd wright. Mar 12, 2008 the greatest book jackets in the world its not often that a person invents a new realm of celebrity, but chip kidd gained renown for something that people once didnt become famous for. The missing person by franz kafka, the schocken kafka library edition, cover design.
His exhibition design explores the rational world, and his graphic design uncovers the subconscious, employing abstract forms to subtly unlock alternative levels of perceptions. We dont think so, but the game is certainly changing. For seven years elaine lustig cohen was married to alvin lustig, one of the most influential graphic designers in the modernist vanguard. New directions, the publishing house, would later use alvin lustig, the american graphic icon, to design a number of book dust jackets. He guides us with easy authority through a delightful graphic history of alltoooften underappreciated literary pleasures and reminds readers just how much wonderful art they may have hidden away on their shelves. He also studied design independently with american architect frank lloyd wright at his taliesin studio. If you are going to reissue a kafka book above with an iconic alvin lustig cover below, you best get a heavyweight like peter mendelsund to tackle it. Alvin lustig believed in the power of design when applied to all aspects of life. New directions publishing new york, usa series dates. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer 19151955. Dec 12, 2012 with the rise in ereaders, book jacket design is rumored to become a lost art. Alvin lustig 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. The first was my reintroduction to great modernist book covers by the likes of paul rand and alvin lustig. A room with a view for book cover lovers twicemodern.
All of my training at college and later with alvin alvin lustig, her first husband and famous designer was all about the avantgarde of the 20thcentury. Even what i saw as a teenager in new york city the museum of modern art moma. Born in 1915, alvin lustig grew up in denver, colorado. Dec 29, 20 new directions, the publishing house, would later use alvin lustig, the american graphic icon, to design a number of book dust jackets. Reading and literature book one 1927 melvin haggerty hardback world book usa. He doesnt advocate the idea that the bookcover alone can sell the book.
He has completed projects in book design, magazines, interiors and textiles. The illustrated dust jacket, 19201970 by martin salisbury. Alvin lustig, for whom ivan chermayeff had worked as an assistant. Alvin lustig influenced contemporary design across multiple mediums, including magazine covers, interior design, and even fabrics. Traditionally, book covers were very plain, but from the 1920s onwards there was a. This inexpensive book edition put this wonderful novel in the hands of the american public at large. Evolution of a book cover the worlds greatest book. With his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. Legends like chip kidd, paula scher, sarah wyman whitman and alvin lustig have all made their marks on book jackets through the years. Although the use of dust jackets was developed in the previous century, it was not until the second decade of the 20th century that the art of book covers.
Lustig believed it was a medium which could reach a wider and less elitist audience than conventional. Alvin lustig, book cover design for monday night by kay boyle, new directions books, usa. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer books. Penguin classics book covers designed and hand embroidered by jillian tamaki cover love book cover design alvin lustig book cover action. Her later artworks, like her book jackets, often combined typography and abstraction. Robinson crusoe by daniel defoe, franklin library, oxford greatest books. He felt that every designer needed to use a holistic approach to their work and applied it to every aspect of his career. Alvin lustig s restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. See more ideas about alvin lustig, album covers and album cover design.
British readers library books with jackets, especially movie tiein titles. Williams a streetcar named desire, with modernprimitivist art by alvin lustig. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a book s contents, with. Lustig has been honored by the american institute of graphic arts and the art direct. 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. With over 10 million books on wordery, all with free worldwide delivery, were dedicated to helping fellow bookworms find the right books at the lowest prices. A distinguished series of commissioned titles published by new directions and aimed at introducing readers to some of the great names in modern literature, the makers of modern literature series had jackets designed by alvin lustig, who also designed the promotional poster below for the series. Over the centuries, book jackets have changed with the times, modernism to postmodernism, drawings and illustrations to photographs and digital mastery. The greatest book jackets in the world its not often that a person invents a new realm of celebrity, but chip kidd gained renown for something that. See more ideas about illustration, cover art and alvin lustig.
Lustig immersed himself in all aspects of design, including architecture. A thoroughly modern, holistic designer, his work in book jackets reveals an enlightening tip. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Cool cover art still exists, but as the 25 best book jackets of 2012 show, theyre trending toward bold simplicity, with highcontrast colors and giant, graphic. By the 1870s, dust jackets had become commonalthough in many cases, they were left blank. James ellroy, a widely recognized author, appreciated kidds book jacket designs and called him the worlds greatest graphic designer. Lushly illustrated, salisburys exciting visual history showcases the work of edward gorey, vanessa bell, alvin lustig, and many others. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions books.
A streetcar named desire, with modernprimitivist art by alvin lustig. Rob hodgsons book jacket for the catcher in the rye. Cover of the great gatsby by alvin lustig, an american graphic designer and typeface designer. Dec 18, 2017 a colorful history of judging books by their covers. Read more lillian bassman bassman was known for her contemporary style. Hyperallergic lushly illustrated, salisburys exciting visual history showcases the work of edward gorey, vanessa bell, alvin lustig, and many others. The bleakness of this cover, to me, reflects the bleakness of the story and the character. Culture, vintage the art of classic book covers alvin lustig, book covers, carter burden. The illustrated dust jacket, 19201970 97805005194 by salisbury, martin and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Despite kidds rigorous and meticulous work on his designs, he often downplayed the significance of his covers. The illustrated dust jacket, 19201970 by martin salisbury, chronicles how this once disposable object became a major creative force in publishing. Cool album covers best book covers book cover design book design paper design retro graphic design mid century art book jacket album book. A brief history of the dust jacket books tell you why, inc. It was not until i got an interview at knopf that i started actually looking at book jackets.