La Cite (Gorod: Stikhi) Book of poems by Alexandre Roubakine; 55 pages with 42 original lithographs by Natalia Goncharova

La Cite (Gorod: Stikhi) Book of poems by Alexandre Roubakine; 55 pages with 42 original lithographs by Natalia Goncharova

La Cite (Gorod: Stikhi) Book of poems by Alexandre Roubakine; 55 pages with 42 original lithographs

Natalia Goncharova

Title

La Cite (Gorod: Stikhi) Book of poems by Alexandre Roubakine; 55 pages with 42 original lithographs

 
Artist
Year
1920  
Technique
lithographs and lithographed facsimile text 
Image Size
10 1/8 x 6 5/16" x 1/2" octavo 
Signature
unsigned; name lithographed on title page 
Edition Size
unnumbered from regular edition of 300 
Annotations
text (poetry) in Russian by Alexandre Roubakine; title on recto in French 
Reference
Logan/Johnson 40, page 97 (2 illustrations); FAMSF 1998.40.52.1-8 
Paper
antique-white Verge d'Arches wove 
State
published 
Publisher
Alexandre Roubakine, in Paris 
Inventory ID
17180 
Price
SOLD
Description

"La Cite" is included on page 97, entry 40 in the Fine Arts Museum San Francisco 1998 in its catalog Artists' Books in the Modern Era 1870-2000 - The Reva and David Logan Collection of Illustrated Books (ISBN: 0-88401-103-8).

The entry notes:"Although simply printed, early Russian futurist and constructivist artists' books were revolutionary in their rejection of the tenets of book design and production.In this powerful reflection on the dynamism of urban existence Roubakine's poems are printed as a manuscript facsimile. The Russian futurist circle of the time held that the inner feelings of writers were most honestly conveyed through their handwriting.

Along with her husband, Mikhail Larionov, Natalia Goncharova was a leading member of the Russian avant-garde before relocating to Paris in 1917. Her illustrations for this volume depict the city as a visual backdrop for the poetry, reflecting her extensive experience as a set designer for the Ballet Russes."

In 2011 a new version was released in 1200 copies in a trade edition that was never advertised or released to bookstores, but only by subscription or personal order to the publisher. Translated into French by Wladimir Berelowitch, with essays by Nancy Perloff, Lucie Nicolas-Vullierme, Susan Solomon, and Wladimir Berelowitch