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[DZIGA VERTOV] LEF. Zhurnal Levogo fronta iskusstv [i.e. LEF. Magazine of the Left Front of Arts]

Item #2091

Moscow: 3ya tipo-litografiya transpechati, 1923. #3 (1923): 40, [1], 40a, 41-186, [1] pp.: ill.+5 pp. of ads. 23x15 cm. Original constructivist wrappers by Alexander Rodchenko. Layout and letterpress by Varvara Stepanova. Bits of spine are missing from the top and the bottom. Occasional foxing on the front wrapper. Otherwise very good.

This issue of LEF magazine is one of the six printed in 1923-1924 in the original ‘LEF’, the theory from this periodical has long outlived its authors and became fundamental for understanding Russian constructivism.
This issue includes the articles by Osip Brik, Igor Terentiev, Boris Arvatov, Nikolay Chuzhak, poems by Khlebnikov, Tretiakov and Aseev etc. An article about Rodchenko’s students from this issue is illustrated with photographs of their constructivist furniture projects. Arguably the most important in this LEF issue are two pieces – one by Sergei Eisenstein on ‘Montage of attractions’ film editing method suggested and used by the master; and Dziga Vertov’s manifesto on Kino-Oki [i.e. Cinema Eyes]. In this manifesto author talks about this concept, that he sees at the advanced version of human eye, when the brain is relaxed and perception is clear. The 9-page article’s layout is also avant-garde, with main postulates printed in squares, the font varies throughout the pages etc. It’s safe to assume that the composition of this article’s layout was created by Varvara Stapanova as well.

Price: $850.00