Otchetnaia vystavka za 6 let: karikatura, politplakat, kniga, zhurnal, gazeta, zhivopis', teatr [Retrospective exhibition of six years' work: caricature, political posters, books, journals, newspapers, painting, theater] by Kukryniksy (Mikhail Kupriianov, Porfirii Krylov, and Nikolai Sokolov); Solomon Telingater, illustrator; Rossiiskaia Assotsiatsiia Proletarskikh Khudozhnikov - 1932

Moscow: IZOGIZ (Agit-massovyi sektor), 1932. Octavo (26 × 17.5 cm). Original decorative wrappers; [16] pp., of these, eight pages are divided horizontally and freely moveable. Light wear to wrappers; lower right corner creased; still about very good. Catalog issued on the occasion of the first exhibition of work by the Kukryniksy art collective, an acronym drawing on the names of its three members: Kupriianov, Krylov and Nik. Sokolov. The exhibition was initiated by Maxim Gorky, who wrote the introductory essay, and held at Klub Federatsii Sovetskikh Pisatelei im. Maksima Gor'kogo. The exhibition showcased original drawings, sketches and illustrations from journals and papers, books, political posters and 'lubki', as well as other unique works and illustrations by individual artists. With a caricature of the artists by Aminadav Kanevskii and a brief preface by B. Malkin. Also included is a strikingly designed layout of the exhibition and a brief biography of the artists. Book designer Solomon Telingater (1903-1969) created an innovative structure: the red stripe on the front and rear wrapper is incorporated into the mid-section of the book, with eight illustrated leaves horizontally divided with a gap, and a propagandistic quote by Mayakovsky visible beneath on the red "banner". Telingater also designed a striking exhibition poster in the form of a triangle. His goal was to transform the book into a maximally functional, but also playful medium, making use of innovative typography, montage, as well as other design elements in the constructivist manner. A close friend of El Lissitsky, Telingater further developed his colleague's forays into avant-garde book design, both in theory and practice. The Kukryniksy were an infamous trio of Soviet caricaturists and artists, perhaps best known for their bitingly satirical illustrations of German and other Fascist politicians during WWII. After meeting at VKhUTEMAS in the 1920s, the three would work in their customary manner throughout their career, producing countless caricatures, posters, and book illustrations: each member of the group would propose a sketch, then all three would elaborate the best one. One of 3000 copies. Getty 409. KVK, OCLC show copies at Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, British Library, Getty, NYPL, Ohio State, and Watson Library.