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Object Timeline

1957

  • Work on this object began.

1993

  • We acquired this object.

2014

2024

  • You found it!

Book Cover, Baby Doll

This is a Book cover. It was written by Tennessee Williams and designed by Elaine Lustig Cohen and made for (as the client) New Directions Books. It is dated 1957 and we acquired it in 1993. Its medium is offset lithograph on paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

Elaine Lustig Cohen was married to Alvin Lustig from 1948 to 1955. She managed her husband’s studio, serving as a secretary, production assistant, and draftsperson—the “office slave,” as she recalls. As Lustig lost his eyesight to diabetes, he relied on his wife to execute his concepts. Following Lustig’s death, Cohen established her own design practice. Her book covers shown here use abstract structural elements, expressive typography, and conceptual photographs to richly interpret the books’ contents.

This object was donated by Tamar Cohen. It is credited Gift of Tamar Cohen and Dave Slatoff.

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 20.9 x 22.3 cm (8 1/4 x 8 3/4 in.)

It is inscribed

Printed in white script, upper right: e. lustig; in yellow dots, within orange shape: BABY / DOLL; in white text, bottom: TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

Cite this object as

Book Cover, Baby Doll; Designed by Elaine Lustig Cohen (American, 1927–2016); Written by Tennessee Williams (American, 1911–1983); Client: New Directions Books; USA; offset lithograph on paper; H x W: 20.9 x 22.3 cm (8 1/4 x 8 3/4 in.); Gift of Tamar Cohen and Dave Slatoff; 1993-31-47

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18645227/ |title=Book Cover, Baby Doll |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>