The art of modern book illustration. Favorites

[Черномашенцев Владимир]

I am fond of collecting rare and well-published books, so I would venture to suggest that's a topic:

The art of book illustration. Favorites.

Author of book illustrations often acts as a full co-writer.

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  The difference of gift books from the mass of the product.

Books a lot, but good books are few. Most publishers offer gift edition, made by way of minimal resistance. It is believed that if we take the standard thick book (block) and turn it into an expensive leather-bound with gold-embossed, then that is enough. This is the book for a thousand rubles "transform" into a book for 15-50 thousand rubles. All differences exclusively in the binding. It is ridiculous to see a cheap glossy paper with illustrations of massive, repeated for the tenth time, as a gift for the "new Russian". They (the "new Russian") do not understand the beautiful, but know that it is prestigious. Best, this principle is observed on the example of publishing "White City". There are books for 15 thousand rubles, and next - the same "for the people" for 2-3 thousand (in a different cover). A true connoisseur of such a "masterpiece" does not accept.
As you can see, the main work in these so-called "Gift edition" rests solely on bookbinding.

I acknowledge interesting book only, while the coincidence of several conditions:

1) Limited edition. Maximum 1-2 thousand copies. Better - a thousand. In an ideal - a few hundreds or tens.
2) Interesting illustrations. Ideally, if the illustrations commissioned contemporary artist specifically for this edition with a guarantee of no recurrence. In such a publication illustrator supports equal collaborator, and his name is indicated along with the name of the author.
3) Expensive designer paper and materials correctly selected in the style of a particular book and its illustrations.
4) The work of a good designer in the design of the book. Interesting cover - not necessarily leather, silk or cloth possible.

Years of study of the book market has led me to believe that now in Russia there are only a few publishing houses that specialize in gift books and doing it with talent. All others are just trying to publish the book with great characters. But the maximum of what they may claim, it is just higher prices. But not money.

Showing illustrations by Gennady Kalinouski to Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" ed. VITA-NOVA, 2006, edition of 1200 copies.

The first edition of this book in 2002 was awarded "Best Book of the Year by the Publishers Association and the Grand Prix of the" Book of the Year "at the XV MMKYA and H. Kalinowski for watercolor was named" Artist of the Year.

PS
I urge you to refrain from politics and discussion of national and religious aspects.

[Yaya]

I do not like. pop some
7 th and 8 I like the cartoons from some "pepper"

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Сообщение от Yaya

7-I 8-I like the cartoons from some "Peppers"

For the Russians closer to "Crocodile".
A Berlioz cartoon reminded me of the hero.

[Jasmin]

And I just 7 th and 8-I found interesting, expressive, good graphics, illustrative ...

[Черномашенцев Владимир]

Indeed, some pictures made in the style of cartoons of "Whistle" (1930) - is what concerns the Moscow section of the book. Biblical portion illustrated in a different style.

Also, it is no secret that any illustration strongly outperformed feature films. Illustration bad "lives" in a break with the book. It requires its own environment. Keep it in the hands and the smell of paper and printing ink, the fingers should evaluate the texture of paper and cloth binding. No photo not give a real impression of the book.

This book should be kept in the hands - the publisher made it with great imagination, leaving a lot of surprises for the attentive reader.

[Yaya]

Chernomashentsev Vladimir, Yeshua is similar to the heavily tanned Ivan the Fool

[Jasmin]

Сообщение от Yaya

Joshua is like a heavily tanned Ivan the fool

Perhaps the artist's image of Yeshua unconsciously associated with the image of Ivan the Homeless?

[Yaya]

Jasmin, because it is absurd ..

[Allena]

Topic is very interesting and useful, thanks! Illustrations, frankly, not much, except the second picture from the second post. Lack of a unified style - the biggest drawback. Bulgakov has united the two lines in one book, and the artist divides them.
In my understanding, unsurpassed illustrations for "The Master and Margarita" made Nadia Rusheva. But - IMHO.

[Черномашенцев Владимир]

I have four different exciting edition of "The Master and Margarita", although I am not a fan of Bulgakov. Unfortunately, I could not buy all the publications that deserve attention. All who have seen, to recognize that this book - one of the most successful.

The book was published in a series of "Manuscripts" and stalizovana under Soviet samizdat - cloth cover with metal corners. Label, printed on a printing machine, as part of the font on a typewriter ... For Moscow and part of the biblical use different fonts, illustrations and papers.

It is unlikely that an artist interested in Millions of times to repeat the standard image of Jesus, made in the Middle Ages, and approved by the Catholic church authorities.

In Russia, the saints often became fools, Ivan the fool.


It should not be approached as an illustration to painting. The best illustration lose next to picture of the average thin. level. But it is also a good picture would be strange to look in the book, of rather non.

Photos - this is just an excuse to pick up the book. Do not even need to read or buy. Just browse through and watch.