Two Technology Periodicals – Moscow, 1930-1931 – Four Issues with Covers Designed by Alexander Rodchenko

Two Technology Periodicals – Moscow, 1930-1931 – Four Issues with Covers Designed by Alexander Rodchenko

Two Soviet periodicals published by the "People's Commissariat for Posts and Telegraphs" (НКПТ), dedicated to disseminating information related to communications and radio, and their use as educational and propaganda tools. Alongside the text are numerous pictures and illustrations.

The present lot comprises four issues with color lithographic covers in identical Constructivist design by Alexander Rodchenko – a large circle cut in the center of the cover revealing an illustration appearing on the first page:

• Радио слушатель [Radio Listener], two issues from the third year (issue no. 2 and issue number 23-24). Moscow: НКПТ, 1930. Russian.

"Radio Listener" focused on making radio accessible to the general population. It concentrated on technical and educational aspects of radio, and published useful information about broadcasts, various technologies, and the use of radio devices.

• Говорит Москва / Govorit Moskva [Moscow Speaks], two issues from the fourth year (issue number 8 and issue number 11). Moscow: НКПТ, 1930-1931. Russian.

Moscow Speaks served as a medium for conveying ideological messages through radio broadcasts, and focused on broadcast content, special announcements from the authorities, and coverage of important events.

MoMA 953.

4 issues (16 pages each). 31.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and minor wear.

Alexander Rodchenko (Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Ро́дченко; 1891-1956), Russian artist, designer, sculptor, and photographer, member of the Constructivist movement. Rodchenko studied art in Kazan, Tatarstan, and Moscow. He began his career in Cubist and Futurist styles, later gravitating towards Suprematism and geometric abstraction, influenced by Kandinsky and Malevich. Rodchenko served as Vladimir Tatlin's assistant, was his student, and participated in a 1916 exhibition curated by Tatlin. Under his influence, in 1919 Rodchenko began creating three-dimensional works made from various materials (wood, metal, etc.), characterized by interlocking geometric shapes forming airy and dynamic compositions.

During the 1920s, he worked regularly with the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, illustrating and photographing his books, issues of the "Left Front of the Arts" (LEF; ЛЕФ) journal, as well as books and publications by other Russian Futurist and avant-garde creators, and regularly published his photographs in the press.

Rodchenko is considered one of the most versatile artists of the Russian avant-garde: he was among the leaders of the Productivist faction, which advocated strengthening the connection between art and industrial production, and between it and the working and consumer population, thus turning to furniture design and applied arts; later he was drawn to photography and photomontage and engaged in them extensively (considered one of the pioneers of the genre), designed posters, illustrated books, worked in graphics and typography, and created sets for theater and cinema.