wiedler.ch

book (design) story #34

carola giedion-welcker:
moderne plastik

verlag dr. hans girsberger, zürich, 1937
size: 26 x 20 cm
designer: herbert bayer

carola giedion-welcker (1893-1979) in zürich was an important promoter of modern painting, sculpture and literature (see also book story 2). this book is one of the best contemporary overviews of modern plastic art with great photos, published by hans girsberger who focussed on books about modern art and architecture.

the book design is by herbert bayer (1900-1985) who emigrated to the usa a year later, in 1938. this book design is quite different from bayer's bauhaus style; here he uses an elegant antiqua and subtle placement of photos and text, with lots of white space.

giedion-welcker's approach to modern sculpture is interesting: she points out parallels to prehistoric megaliths, e.g. comparing a work by brancusi with a celtic dolmen.

she also notes that in an age of increasingly complex technology and civilisation people and artists are longing for simple forms, unspoilt nature and "primitive", esoteric cults – what's new today?

there was also an edition housed in a slipcase ...

... with spiral binding, a truly "modernist" design.

the nameplate on the back board suggests that this copy once belonged to the influential german/dutch typographer, helmut salden (1910-1996).