first edition Softcover
1947 · New York
by Richter, Hans (director); Max Ernst (cover by); Fredrick Kiesler (layout)
New York: Films International of America, 1947. First edition. Softcover. vg+ to near fine. Octavo. 24 unpaginated pages (12 double-sided leaves + printed covers). Illustrated green stapled wrappers with black lettering on the front cover.
Film program for the noted American avant-garde feature film produced and directed by pioneering dada artist Hans Richter (1888-1976). The program is illustrated throughout with b/w photographic reproductions showing stills from the film, and images of the various artistic contributors. The program is artistically laid-out with the initial leaves being cut vertically in 3/4 width to form a sort of continuous visual collage which corresponds with the photographic portrait of Richter on the first full leaf. Text throughout includes plot synopsis, text from many of the collaborators and their avant-garde contemporaries, as well as cast and crew credits, and short essays on cinema, art and psychology. The lithographic front cover was created by Max Ernst after an original design, and the layout was created by artist and designer Fredrick Kiesler (1890-1965).
The work is a surreal anthology film, comprised of 7 shorter segments within the broader framing story of a man who sells individually tailored dreams to clients. The shorter sequences are comprised of the individual dreams, each directed and conceptualized by one of an all-star group of important 20th century international modern artists and avant-garde filmmakers including Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Alexander Calder and Fernand Léger. Music by composed by John Cage and Darius Milhaud. The film won the award for the Best Original Contribution to the Progress of Cinematography at the 1947 Venice Film Festival. An important work of post-war American avant-garde film, which draws heavily on the artistic innovations and movements of the early 20th century.
Wrappers with extremely minor sunning along the left side. Interior front cover and a few other pages with minor foxing. Interior otherwise clean, with image and text vibrant. Wrappers protected in a folded sheet of parchment paper. Wrappers in near fine, interior in very good+ condition overall. (Inventory #: 54708)
Film program for the noted American avant-garde feature film produced and directed by pioneering dada artist Hans Richter (1888-1976). The program is illustrated throughout with b/w photographic reproductions showing stills from the film, and images of the various artistic contributors. The program is artistically laid-out with the initial leaves being cut vertically in 3/4 width to form a sort of continuous visual collage which corresponds with the photographic portrait of Richter on the first full leaf. Text throughout includes plot synopsis, text from many of the collaborators and their avant-garde contemporaries, as well as cast and crew credits, and short essays on cinema, art and psychology. The lithographic front cover was created by Max Ernst after an original design, and the layout was created by artist and designer Fredrick Kiesler (1890-1965).
The work is a surreal anthology film, comprised of 7 shorter segments within the broader framing story of a man who sells individually tailored dreams to clients. The shorter sequences are comprised of the individual dreams, each directed and conceptualized by one of an all-star group of important 20th century international modern artists and avant-garde filmmakers including Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Alexander Calder and Fernand Léger. Music by composed by John Cage and Darius Milhaud. The film won the award for the Best Original Contribution to the Progress of Cinematography at the 1947 Venice Film Festival. An important work of post-war American avant-garde film, which draws heavily on the artistic innovations and movements of the early 20th century.
Wrappers with extremely minor sunning along the left side. Interior front cover and a few other pages with minor foxing. Interior otherwise clean, with image and text vibrant. Wrappers protected in a folded sheet of parchment paper. Wrappers in near fine, interior in very good+ condition overall. (Inventory #: 54708)