Item #2370 [SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]
[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]

[SOVIET WOMAN] Okhrana materinstva i mladenchestva v Soiuze SSR, 1918-1938 [i.e. Protection of Motherhood and Infancy in the USSR, 1918-1938]

Item #2370

Moscow: Izd. Muzeia-vystavki okhrany materinstva i mladenchestva, 1938. [292] pp.: ill., including folding and narrow leaves. 35,5x28 cm. In original cloth with round bas-relief and gilt dates on front cover, blind debossed ornament on spine; in modern case. Illustrated endpapers. Spine restored, pale water stains and foxing occasionally, rusty staples, tear between front endpapers, otherwise good.

First and only edition. One of 5000 copies. The title is expanded to a spread and varies in 11 languages of Soviet republics.

This early Soviet photobook promoted all-around care of maternity and state-controlled raising of new generations, including a high-functioning system of women’s centers, hospitals, kindergartens and dairy kitchens. It is one of 5 albums from the 1930s, dedicated to the Soviet Woman: the others are ‘Mother and Child’ (1933); ‘Lenin’s Precepts to the Women of the Whole World’ (1934); ‘The Protection of Mother and Child in the Land of the Soviets’; ‘Engineers’ Wives’ (1937). This one was published on the 20th anniversary of the Departments of Protection of Motherhood and Infancy and the creation of early orphanages.

The photobook contains a huge amount of photographs and photomontages featuring children of various ages and ethnic groups. At least 10 photographers were entrusted with the mission of portraying children in certain republics: Olga Ignatovich, Victor Ivanitsky, A.D. Pogostky, S.I. Tules, A.I. Frolov in RSFSR; Yelizaveta Ignatovich in Ukraine; Ye.N. Leonov in Belarus; A.D. Pogostky in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan; Ya.A. Brodsky and Olga Ignatovich in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The book design was created by Ukrainian artist Yakov Babushkin (1907-?), mostly known for his contribution to Soviet cinematography. He was born in Kharkiv and studied at the studio of the III
International Club under I.S. Kazarnovsky (1922-1923) and at the directing department of VGIK (1928-1932). Since 1932, he had worked at the Central Studio of Documentary Films as an artist and
since 1945 as a director. He created a large number of titles and posters.

Following the thread that connects this book to the film, Babushkin credited Yevgenia Nemirova as “the author of scenario and the literary text”. Some leaves are folded resembling a children’s game and hiding some photographs behind. They are added with small flaps covering exemplary children’s clothes.

Six half-width brochures contain articles and visual statistics on the Departments of Protection of Motherhood and Infancy, women’s centers, nurseries and milk kitchens, orphanages, rights of mother and child, pediatrics. Endpapers feature young children taking part in a large physical culture festival. The edition was printed at the Children’s Book Factory. The bas-relief was designed by Anna Yuzhakova.

Worldcat shows copies located in Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Maryland Universities.

Sold

Ask a Question Add to Wish List
See all items in Book Design, Children, Women's Studies