Alexander Rodchenko / Varvara Stepanova - The Soviet Arctic - 1939

This very rare propaganda photo book, designed by Rodchenko and Stepanova for the 1939 World's Fair, showcased Stalin's expansion into the inhospitable Arctic region of the USSR as a way to demonstrate the superiority of the Soviet system.

As well as concentrating on exploiting the natural resources of the frozen Arctic region, the book also shows how the new Communist regime is "making life better" for the indigenous inhabitants and triumphantly documents both the sea and air conquest of the North Pole by Soviet explorers. The contents include a photographic documentation of the Soviet Arctic expeditions to the Chukotsk Peninsula in the East and the Kola Peninsula in the West. The book also includes a coloured map which indicates the exploration and development of the Soviet Arctic.

Uniquely printed in gravure using blue-green cobalt ink, the book showcases Rodchenko's design talents and also references Eisenstein's iconic movie Battleship Potemkin in it's use of a bright red flag as a final image to symbolise the inevitable triumph of the Communist Revolution.

Included in The Soviet Photobook 1920-1941 by Karasik and Heiting , pages 494-497

Condition:
A very good copy of this extremely rare book. Difficult to find in any condition. Two blue ink stains on edges of pages (which look like they may have come from a leaky fountain pen sometime in the distant past?) - approximately first 24 pages and last 14 pages affected. Ink stain on cover that affects the last letter of the title. Two very small tears to pages and a tiny crease to top of page. Inscription to first title page. Age wear to cover. Please examine listing photos carefully.