This short book, intended for children of all ages, is perhaps the best-known work of El Lissitzky (1890-1941). Lissitzky was a Russian artist, architect, designer, typographer, and photographer who was active in the avant-garde movement that flourished in Soviet Russia and in Germany, until the dominance of Socialist Realism by 1930 put a stop to its revolutionary activity. He directly influenced the typographical and display advertising innovations of the Bauhaus and De Stijl. This book entirely integrates modern typographical effects, as Lissitzky intended, with his illustrations in the Suprematist style.
The original book About Two Squares was printed by letterpress, even the slanted text and illustrations. It was first produced (“constructed”) in 1920 at the Soviet art institute UNOVIS in Vitebsk, and around April 1922 printed by Sycthian Press, Berlin, by Haberland Printers, Leipzig, in paperback, with 50 hardbound copies autographed and numbered, as the copyright page states.
A Dutch edition, published as Suprematisch worden van twee kwadraten in 6 konstrukties, edited by Theo van Doesburg, was published in The Hague by De Stijl, 1922. In October/November of that year, it appeared as a regular edition of De Stijl, vol 5 no 10/11. Also, 50 hardbound copies of the Dutch edition were numbered and signed by the author.
- About 2 Squares
El Lissitzky - To all, to all children
- El Lissitzky
A suprematist story — about two squares.
In 6 constructions: Berlin, Skythen, 1922. - Don’t read this book Take —
paper…fold
rods…color
blocks of wood…build - here ARE
……………two
…………………squares - flying toward the Earth
……………………………from far away - and see
…………the black restlessly - craSH — scattering everywhere
- and upon the black
…………………………the Red establishes itself clearly - So it ends —
………………further on - UNOVIS
constructed 1920, vitebsk
