Editions of M.M. Zoshchenko in 1920-ies and their Graphic Design

Abstract

There are analysed the specific features of graphic design of the books by the famous writersatirist M. Zoshchenko, released in the 1920-ies; that period was especially fruitful in the works of the Master, and in the publishing fate of his works. There are considered in detail the original ways of graphic interpretation of the writer works, outlined in those years, but not received the further development. For example, depicting on the book cover not the characters themselves, but their habitats or the attributes of philistine life, styling the book design under pre-revolutionary cheap popular crude coloured woodcuts edition. On the example of the works of N.E. Radlov, B.I. Antonovsky, K.P. Rotov, A.A. Uspensky, K.S. Eliseev there are identified the advantages and disadvantages of a purely comical interpretation of the images by the satirists. The undoubted merit of the graphic artists is bright grotesque, convincing social character types drawn in the stories. However, almost none of the book designers and illustrators were able to convey plastically the stylistic originality of the works of M.M. Zoshchenko.