Georgy pyatakov editor (2 risultati)

Softcover. Condizione: g to g+. First edition. Folio. Unpaginated. [40]pp. Original decorative wrappers. Photo-illustrated title page. Illustrated with spectacular duo-tone photogravures, this striking issue of "USSR im Bau" (USSR in Construction) is devoted exclusively to the Makejev metallurgical plant, and to the Luhansk steam train factory. The late 1920s and early 1930s were a time of radical changes in politics, economics and society. The developed nations were plunged into the Great Depression, overturning the daily lives of millions of people, making them reconsider their former views of the capitalist system and their own place in it. While the West was in the throes of a financial crisis, the Soviet Union embarked on an ambitious programme of rapid industrialisation. The aim was to completely overhaul the national economy, transforming the USSR into a leading industrial power. In only a few years, no matter what the cost, the country had to undergo a process that had taken decades in Western nations. The Soviet Union launched a grandiose scheme to build modern industries and infrastructure, but there was a catastrophic shortage of tools, technology and knowledge. The deficit could only be filled by importing equipment from the West and inviting foreign experts to Russia. But the USSR was the target of ongoing international trade embargoes and a diplomatic blockade. World business was in no hurry to collaborate with the Soviet Union, while the foreign press contributed to its negative image. The international recognition of the USSR was a long way off. Faced with these problems, the Soviet Union decided to publish a magazine aimed at foreign readers, describing the achievements and positive changes taking place in the USSR - and, indirectly, demonstrating the advantages of the socialist system. In summer 1929, the editors of "Our Achievements," headed by Maxim Gorky, suggested issuing an illustrated supplement. The first test issue of the new publication, called "USSR in Construction" ("SSSR na stroike"), appeared in December 1929. "USSR in Construction" soon eclipsed its predecessor. The new magazine was completely unlike any other periodical of that time: it was published in Russian, English, French, German and Spanish and consisted almost entirely of photographs, accompanied by captions and short essays. The texts were written by such nationally acclaimed journalists as Mikhail Koltsov and Isaac Babel. The printing was of the highest standard. Wrappers age-toned, with sporadic creasing along edges. A 9 1/2" closed tear at centerfold. Text in German. Wrappers in overall good, interior in good+ condition.…

Softcover. Condizione: f to vg. First edition. Folio (16 1/2 x 11 3/4"). Unpaginated. Original illustrated wrappers, with red and black lettering on front cover. "USSR in Construction" was a stunning photographic propaganda magazine published in the Soviet Union from 1930 to 1941, and briefly in 1949. It was published in Russian, French, English, German, with a Spanish-language edition added in 1938. The magazine's self-proclaimed aim was to "reflect in photography the whole scope and variety of the construction work now going on the USSR." It was conceived and designed to be an important foreign relations tool and to portray a positive image of the developments occurring in the Soviet Union to the rest of the world. "USSR in Construction" informed readers abroad of the rapid construction and industrialization taking place within the Soviet Union and depicted the nation as a leading industrial power. From a design perspective, the magazine was a fascinating example of early 20th-century photomontage, with its recurrent use of inserts, and spectacular fold-out pages. The method of printing used for the printing was rotogravure, a type of intaglio printing process, in order to create extremely high quality duotone images (in blue, green, salmon, and olive). With this striking Russian-language issue of "USSR in Construction" dedicated to the "brave Soviet paratroopers," renown Soviet artist Aleksander Rodchenko* and his wife Varvara Stepanova introduced a circular design as the basis for their page layout, thus allowing them to accomodate a variety of scenes from the parachutists' everyday activities as well as Communist political messages. This issue is complete with the parachute fold-out, and the origami-folded centerfold depicting Stalin surrounded by half a circle, which in turn is superimposed over a triangle-shaped image of clouds with numerous parachutists floating down. Discoloration and minor foxing along upper margin of covers. Moderate creasing along spine. Tiny closed tears along fore-edge of back cover, with previous owner's inscription (in Russian) on upper margin. Tip of corners slightly creased throughout (not affecting text or images). Text in Russian. Wrappers in overall fair, interior in good+ to very good, parachute fold-out and origami-folded centerfold in very good condition. *Aleksander Mikhailovich Rodchenko (1891-1956) was a Russian artist, sculptor, photographer and graphic designer. He was one of the founders of constructivism and Russian design; he was married to the artist Varvara Stepanova. Rodchenko was one of the most versatile Constructivist and Productivist artists to emerge after the Russian Revolution. He worked as a painter and graphic designer before turning to photomontage and photography. His photography was socially engaged, formally innovative, and opposed to a painterly aesthetic. Concerned with the need for analytical-documentary photo series, he often shot his subjects from odd angles - usually high above or down below - to shock the viewer and to postpone recognition. He wrote: "One has to take several different shots of a subject, from different points of view and in different situations, as if one examined it in the round rather than looked through the same key-hole again and again." (From Wikipedia).…