Das Neue Berlin. Monatshefte für Probleme der Grossstadt (The New Berlin. Monthly for Problems of the Metropolis) Issues 1, 2 and 5, 1929
Berlin: Martin Wagner, 1929. First edition. Softcover. Small Folio ( 12 x 8 1/2"). (4) 24 (5-16)pp., 2 plates; (4) 25-48 (5-20)pp.; (4) 89-108 (v-xvi)pp. Original photo-illustrated covers with two color lettering, all protected by modern mylar. Three original issues of the provocative 1929 magazine "Das Neue Berlin," representative for time and demeanor of the confident and assertive posture in the German culture. The complete volume was published in book form by Birkhäuser, Basel, in 1988. Text in German.
Intentions of the group are well represented in its introductory statement, signed by Adolf Behne and Martin Wagner: 'What we don't want. We don't want to give this magazine a facade, and we don't want to styalize its front. Therefore no achievement in the field of architecture may be excluded, because it wasn't measured in time, and because it doesn't fit the "frame." – We don't want to make a magazine for those... justified or unjustified ... already recognized, who have the say everywhere anyway. We don't want to conform with official restraints. We already have enough publishing that is not of help. Our task is to gather all thoughts and works which can contribute to make Berlin a place of prosperous work and leisure.'
Issue No. 1 features photographs of L. Moholy-Nagy, Sasha Stone and Otto Umbehr, Lucia Moholy and Cousemüller, contributions by Martin Wagner and Adolf Behne. It contains photographs of models and plans of the Berlin exhibition grounds and two high-quality full page color offset reproductions of architectural drawings of the Berlin convention center end the Stone Gardme with waterfall, the main restaurant and the convention hall by Poelzig and Wagner, plus drawings of the main entrance and the construction site. Unfortunately on portrati of Florian Geyer is cut out on page 24, effecting the photograph on verso, of course. Wraps with some wear along edges, light chipping and creasing, rubbed.
Issue No. 2 features a photo-illustrated article by Bruno Taut: "Via London-Paris-New York-Neu-Berlin," an anonymous article on the experimental settlement in Spandau with a Král portrait drawing of Walter Gropius, an extensive article on the design problem of a world metropolis, illustrated with models of the architects Luckhardt & Anker, Peter Behrens' model of the Alexanderplatz as well as plans and models by Mies van der Rohe. A short contributions treats the new production of Hoffmann's Stories at the Kroll Opera, illustrated with Lucia Moholy photographs of the set designs by L.Moholy-Nagy. Three pages are reserved for reproductions of artworks in exhibitions of various museums and the Art Academy. Wraps with light wear along edges, light chipping and creasing, rubbed.
Issue No. 5 focuses on Berlin becoming a world metropolis. It features contributions by Otto Ernst Sutter, Walter Curt Behrendt and Heinrich Mendelsohn, highlighting various attempts to improve the image of Berlin, e.g. that of the Exhibition and Tourism Office. It is illustrated with photographs of Sasha Stone, a George Gross carricature, the display window the departmentstore Michels from Adolf Behne's publication "Berlin in Bildern, reproductions of etchings by Georg Fritz and various photographs of the Alexanderplatz, works from the Technical Academy, Sasha Stone photographs of works by Alexander Calder and a Bauhaus Dessau photomontage for the Junkers Aircraft manufacturer. Wraps with light wear along edges, light hipping and creasing, lightly rubbed
All issues contain some twenty pages of illustrated advertisements, four pages at front, the rest at rear of each magazine. Volume one includes an advertisement of the Art School Johannes Itten at the Potsdamer Straase 75. The overwhelming amount of advertisements is placed by various engineering, construction and building supply companies. Back covers and two inside back covers contain well designed full page advertisemtns, illustrated with photographs or artwork. Good to very good condition. Item #49010
Price: $750.00