LEF [and] Noviy LEF. Zhurnal levogo fronta iskusstv.

complete set of lef and novyi lef

The iconic Soviet art journal that defined an era. Complete set of seven issues of LEF and 22 issues of Noviy LEF.

Brik, Tretyakov, Pasternak, Stepanova, Popova, Rodchenko all contributed. Sergey Eisenstein published his article 'Montage of Attractions' in the pages of this influential and pioneering publication. The final issue of LEF includes the elegy of Lenin which brought Mayakovsky national fame. In July 1928, however, he was replaced as editor by Tretiakov as he did not agree with the group's move towards factual literature. By 1929 Mayakovsky had moved away from LEF and created a new group, the short-lived REF (Revolutionary Front of Art).

'The 1927-28 covers of the magazine New LEF are more orthodox illustrations of Constructivist goals, their effectively organised formal language projecting a synthesis of aesthetic clarity and political/cultural meaning. The layout of the covers is characterised by a rigorous grid, flat bright colors, and distinctly lettered titles. The photographic elements are straightforward details of Soviet life, isolated, silhouetted, and enlarged for maximum visual and psychological impact. These dynamic black-and-white images, often details or fragments and sometimes diagonally tipped, set up a subtle tension in relation to the overall design' (M. Rowell in MoMA, 56).

28 vols (7 of LEF and 22 for Novyi LEF), 8vo (21.8 x 13.9 to 24 x 6 cm); many letterpress illustrations, some printed in colours, # 1 (1923): 252, [1] pp.: ill. + 3 pp. of ads, fragments of spine lost, minor tears of outer edge of p. 215-216, some soiling, small signature on t.p., otherwise good, # 2 (1923): 177, [1] pp. + 2 pp. of ads, tears of spine and covers, otherwise very good, #3 (1923): 40, [1], 40a, 41-186, [1] pp.: ill.+5 pp. of ads, uncut, minor pale water stains on front cover, small tears of spine with small fragments lost, #4 (1923, t.p. dated 1924): 222, [1] pp.: ill.+ 1 p. of ads. separated to sections, fragments of spine lost and text block loose, some foxing, pale water stain on front cover and following three leaves, good, #1 (1924): 160 pp. back cover detached, fragments of spine and covers lost (design of covers isn't affected), ink spot on outer edge of p. 48-50. P. 3-4 lost in most copies of this issue, otherwise good, #2 (1924): 158 pp. + 2 pp. of ads, covers detached and soiled, partly uncut, stains on p. 1-12, pale water stains on edges of some pages, good, #3 (1925): 144 pp. fragments of spine lost, tear of front cover repaired, upper edge of front cover chipped, ink signature on t.p., otherwise very good; [novyi lef] wrappers designed by Rodchenko, # 1 (1928) stamp removed to upper cover and p. 1, # 5 (1928) small water stain to upper corner of wrapper, # 8 (1928) edge of wrapper reinforced with Japanese paper and small ownership stamp to lower wrapper, all issues in very good condition, some pencil annotations or ownership inscriptions to a few issues, a very good set.