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Object Timeline

1947

  • Work on this object began.

1993

  • We acquired this object.

2011

2024

  • You found it!

Book Cover, Amerika, 1947

This is a Book cover. It was written by Franz Kafka and published by New Directions Books. It is dated 1947 and we acquired it in 1993. Its medium is offset lithograph in navy and purple ink on white shiny wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

Functioning like a small poster, a book cover must quickly capture a viewer’s attention and provoke curiosity about the content within, contributing an enduring element to the reader’s experience. The covers designed by Alvin Lustig in the 1940s and 1950s employ abstracted iconography and simple typography and lettering to create emotionally compelling representations of a book’s themes. Lustig, who died at 40, is remembered as one of America’s greatest modern designers.

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

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 18.7 x 16.3 cm (7 3/8 x 6 7/16 in.)

It is signed

Signed in printed white ink, front cover lower left: lustig.

It is inscribed

Printed vertically in white ink, spine: AMERIKA; printed vertically in dark pink ink, spine: FRANZ KAFKA. Printed horizontally in pink, spine lower margin within white square: NC 10. Printed in teal and pink ink, front cover center right: AMERIKA. Printed in white ink, lower right: franz kafka.

Cite this object as

Book Cover, Amerika, 1947; Written by Franz Kafka (1883–1924); Published by New Directions Books; USA; offset lithograph in navy and purple ink on white shiny wove paper; H x W: 18.7 x 16.3 cm (7 3/8 x 6 7/16 in.); Gift of Tamar Cohen and Dave Slatoff; 1993-31-165-6

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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/18734065/ |title=Book Cover, Amerika, 1947 |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=19 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>