Die Fläche: Design and Lettering of the Vienna Secession, 1902-1911 - (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Around 1900, leading Secessionists and their students developed a new style of graphic modernism, emphasizing flatness, expressive geometry, stylized lettering, and bold colors in an effort to transform the world of printed surfaces. Die Flèache (The Surface) showcased their vision, presenting hundreds of designs for everything from posters and playing cards to textiles and packaging. This facsimile edition of Die Flèache recreates every page of the formative periodical in full color and at original size, preserving even the accordion foldouts of the second volume. In-depth essays contextualize the work, highlighting contributions by pathbreaking women, innovative lettering artists, and key practitioners of the new "surface art," including Rudolf von Larisch, Alfred Roller, and Wiener Werkstèatte founders Koloman Moser and Josef Hoffmann. With complete translations, a glossary, and selected artist biographies, this book provides unprecedented access to a major document of design history."--

Book Synopsis

A landmark of graphic modernism, the Vienna Secession's magazine is brought to life in a complete facsimile reprint with new essays and translations

The brainchild of Koloman Moser, Alfred Roller, Josef Hoffmann, Bertold Loffler and others--the leading graphic artists of the Vienna Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte--Die Fläche (German for The Surface) laid out an extraordinary group vision for design through adventurous work by these designer-professors and more than 100 of their students. Packed with bold ideas for posters, advertisements, book covers, woodcut prints and much more, the result is an inexhaustibly rich sourcebook of graphic forms, modern ideas and technical experiments, all reflecting a reorientation in design practice and teaching that would resonate around the world.
This full-size facsimile of all 14 issues of Die Fläche lets readers experience this rare gem as it was meant to be seen, while new essays and translations explore its significance.
Die Fläche is the first volume in Letterform Archive's facsimile series, which presents landmarks of print and design history with exacting reproductions and new essays that provide rich context and fresh insights.

Review Quotes

In short, this book provides a glimpse into a cutting-edge movement that experimented with concepts of flatness, abstraction, and reduction--tools that are oft-used in the modern design toolbox--and, as such, offers many lessons and inspiration for our practice today.--Hope Meng "BLAG"

Including a complete English translation of all its texts, without doubt this publication will become a standard reference on Die Fläche. It is a magnificent achievement, destined to be enjoyed as an object of pleasure and a delight to the reader.--Jeremey Aynsley "author of Pioneers of Modern Graphic Design: A Complete History, Graphic Design in Germany: 1890-1945"

One of the most exciting graphic design books of the year....Given that copies of the original periodical are exceptionally rare, this facsimile version is a unique opportunity to see the complete volumes gathered together.--Roberto Rosenman "theviennasecession.com"

One of the most exquisitely beautiful, expertly crafted facsimile editions I have ever held in my hands... a production masterpiece.--Steven Heller "PRINT"

It is a valuable compilation and rare testimony of the Vienna Secession's creative glory and lasting importance. It is an artifact itself, essential for designers, academics, artists and art enthusiasts.-- "typeroom"