Sunday, 30 January 2011
Mendelsund Kafkas
I haven't much to say about these marvellous covers that hasn't already been said by either their designer, the great Peter Mendelsund (who I interviewed here), or in this very thoughtful post at the Casual Optimist. But I couldn't not show them, since they're so good. So, here are Mendelsund's upcoming covers for the works of Franz Kafka, forthcoming from Schocken Books in the US in mid-2011. Click for much bigger images.
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4 comments:
These are so great. Their sparse, solid aesthetic is reminiscent of so many other styles (I'm thinking Miro and Soviet Propaganda mostly). All of which seem appropriate given the publications!
The eye motif is entirely appropriate to Kafka and the pseudo municipal 1960s aesthetic is a pleasing approach but the text in all of these covers is questionable: The author typeface and script titles seem modish and jarring. Also ugly. The Amerika one is hideous! And who's idea was it to call the author "F. Kafka"? Are we going to have W. Shakespeare and L. Tolstoy next?
I believe that the typeface used is actually based on Kafka's own handwriting, if that helps. I'm not sure why the 'F. Kafka', though--maybe he signed himself as such? I'm not sure.
You know, I think the typeface works. It adds a playful level to the otherwise stark design that hints to the sardonic approach to the absurdity of the plots within. Also the bright colours, which make them lighter, pointing out, perhaps, that Kafka's writing is often humorous as well as dark. The 'F. Kafka' thing, I agree, seems arbitrary unless he signed himself this way.
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