El Lissitzky letters and photographs, 1911-1941.

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El Lissitzky letters and photographs, 1911-1941.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/83441007

The El Lissitzky archive consists of 106 letters (1911-1941), most sent by Lissitzky to his wife, the art historian Sophie Lissitzky-Küppers; his personal notes on art and aesthetics, a few official documents; and ca. 170 documentary photographs and printed reproductions of his designs, especially exhibition designs. The bulk of the collection, Lissitzky's letters, contains all of his surviving letters to Sophie Lissitzky-Küppers. Most of the letters are in German and date from 1923-1935. He discusses his varied artistic activities (exhibition designs, writings, architectural competitions, book designs and typography), his view of fellow artists (Malevich, Moholy-Nagy, Kee, Arp, Tatlin, Gropius, Oud, Mondrian, Tschichold), and includes sketches of Prouns and other works, including humorous drawings for his children. The stationary on which many of the letters are written bears his famous typographical letterhead in drawn and printed form. Rare photographs from the late 1920s and early 1930s depict Lissitzky's designs for national and international exhibitions for the Soviet State. There are also some reproductions of other art and architectural projects. An inventory of his work, personal workbook, address books and official documents provide further documentation of Lissitzky's personal and professional life.

ca. 1.0 linear ft. (3 boxes)

Getty Research Institute

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8301439

Getty Research Institute

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Lissitzky, El, 1890-1941

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Russian architect and designer, El Lissitzky became an important representative of the Russian avant-garde to the West through friendships with artists such as Lázló Moholy-Nagy and Kurt Schwitters. Lissitzky worked on an array of typographical, theater, furniture and exhibition designs, and advocated a synthesis of architecture, painting and sculpture. From the description of El Lissitzky letters and photographs, 1911-1941. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 83441007 ...

Arp, Jean, 1887-1966

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László Moholy-Nagy (1894-1946) was a painter, sculptor, photographer, designer, film maker, theorist and teacher who was a major figure in the Bauhaus movement, first in Germany and later instrumental in bringing the Bauhaus philosophy to the United States. His work spanned many genres. He was influenced by the Constructivists, Dadists and the Suprematists. In 1922 he was appointed to Bauhaus school of design in Berlin, staying until 1928. After working in commercial practice in Europe, he mov...