Hlavou Proti Zdi

Czech born Ladislav Sutnar (1897-1976) is a well known graphic designer, but who knew that he also produced fine book bindings? Issued by the Cooperative Work collective headed by Sutnar in Prague in the 1930’s, this special full leather binding was designed by Sutnar himself. At extra cost, Cooperative Work would supply special bindings; this book with the same Sutnar design was available bound in green cloth-covered boards stamped in black and silver.

Hlavou Proti Zdi; Román, a 1936 novel by Vladimír Drnák is based on the life of Vincent van Gogh. It has a contemporary gilt and blind-tooled full leather binding with top edge gilt. The simple arrangement of incised lines and lettering are very typical of Sutnar’s graphic design style. He wrote about packaging, advertising, and catalog design. The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Library has many of these books, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum has many Sutnar designed objects, drawings, and the Sutnar Archives.