Margarita Tupitsyn's 1999 book 'El Lissitzky. Beyond the Abstract Cabinet' examined for historical inaccuracies.
Published in 1999 by Yale University Press and the Sprengel Museum, Margarita Tupitsyn's book 'El Lissitzky. Beyond the Abstract Cabinet' complements a traveling exhibition showcasing Lissitzky's creations. The volume includes contributions from Tupitsyn, Matthew Drutt, and Ulrich Pohlmann, as well as an 'Archive' section filled with photographs from Lissitzky's collection, featuring works by Man Ray and Dziga Vertov. Tupitsyn's main essay examines Lissitzky's career in the Soviet Union, addressing his assertions regarding his 1921 journey to Germany and his willingness to depart from the West. The book also addresses Lissitzky's health challenges, his collaborations, and the influence of Sophie Küppers on his designs, while Pohlmann's essay links Soviet propaganda to fascist exhibitions. Some editorial mistakes are acknowledged.
Key facts
- The book 'El Lissitzky. Beyond the Abstract Cabinet' was published in 1999 by Yale University Press and the Sprengel Museum.
- It accompanied a traveling exhibition of Lissitzky's photographic work shown in Hanover, Barcelona, and Porto.
- Essays are by Margarita Tupitsyn, Matthew Drutt, and Ulrich Pohlmann.
- An 'Archive' section includes photograms by Man Ray and Georgy Zimin, works by Klucis, and materials by Dziga Vertov.
- Translated 1935 letters between Lissitzky and his wife reveal connections with Berija, Ezhova, and Mikojan.
- Tupitsyn's essay surveys Lissitzky's Soviet career from 1927 to 1928, covering his propaganda work and friendships.
- The book contains editorial errors like misspelling Van Doesburg as 'Doesberg' and misidentifying the journal 'G'.
- Pohlmann's essay links Soviet propaganda exhibition methods to those used in Italian and German fascist shows.
Entities
Artists
- Éva Forgács
- Margarita Tupitsyn
- El Lissitzky
- Matthew Drutt
- Ulrich Pohlmann
- Man Ray
- Georgy Zimin
- Klucis
- Dziga Vertov
- Sophie Lissitzky-Küpper
- Berija
- Ezhova
- Mikojan
- Peter Nisbet
- Moholy-Nagy
- Rodchenko
- Gabo
- Christina Lodder
- Josef Albers
- Sophie Küppers
- Kruchenikh
- Khlebnikov
- Matyushin
- Malevich
- Tatlin
- Stepanova
- Van Doesburg
- László Péri
- Hans Richter
- Mies Van der Rohe
- Werner Graeff
- Friedrich Kiesler
- Herbert Bayer
- Ehrenburg
- Bolshakov
Institutions
- ARTMargins Online
- Yale University Press
- Sprengel Museum
- Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona
- Fondacao de Serralves
- NARKOMPROS
- Bauhaus
- UNOVIS
- INkHUK
- Scythians
Locations
- Pasadena
- New Haven
- Hanover
- Barcelona
- Porto
- Germany
- Moscow
- Russia
- Switzerland
- Berlin
- Rome
- Abastuman