Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova - Moscow - 1939

This rare and important propaganda photo book was designed by the husband and wife team of Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova for the New York World's Fair of 1939 using the innovative graphic design techniques and striking photographs that were the trademark of their work. In this Stalinist propaganda piece, Moscow is presented as a showpiece of the new and better world under construction, showcasing the great strides being taken in the Soviet Union under Stalin in creating a communist utopia.

All lies, of course. Moscow of the 1930s was a city of fear and paranoia, where you couldn't trust your neighbours, informers were everywhere and the secret police arrested people in the middle of the night.

Alexander Rodchenko emerged as a pivotal figure in the Russian avant-garde movement during the early 20th century. His multifaceted contributions spanned painting, graphic design, photography, and sculpture. Born in 1891, Rodchenko was active during a period marked by the Russian Revolution, which played a significant role in shaping his approach to art and politics. He was widely recognized for his innovative work in the constructivist movement—a major artistic and architectural philosophy that came out of the Russian Revolution.

This rare propaganda photobook is included in Mikhail Karasik and Manfred Heiting, The Soviet Photobook 1920-1941, p. 464-465

Condition:
Very good copy of this rare propaganda photobook. Missing one of the foldouts at the rear. Former owner's name on first page. Staples rusted. Some and marks blemishes on pages. Edgewear to corner of cover and spine. Please examine listing photographs carefully.