Simonson Lee 1888 1967 (3 results)

New York, Duell, Sloan and Pearce. A fine copy in the original gilt-blocked cloth. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. ; 59 pages; Description: x, 59 p. ; 22 cm. Genre: Poetry. 1 Kg.

New York, Duell, Sloan and Pearce. A fine copy in the original gilt-blocked cloth. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. ; 59 pages; Description: x, 59 p. ; 22 cm. Genre: Poetry. 1 Kg.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Inscribed and dated1943 by Simonson. A graduate of Harvard College, 1909, Simonson went on to have a versatile career as a theatrical set designer, architect, interior designer and painter. This work documents mostly his set and costume designs for the Theatre Guild, of which he was one of the founders. He was responsible for virtually all their designs between their founding in 1919 and the publication of this book. As the book corroborates, he was instrumental in the move away from literal realism in set design. He also worked with some of the most legendary theater personalities and productions -- O'Neill, Shaw, the Lunts, just to name a few. There are among the photos a few photos of his interior decoration, to which he brought a theatrical flair. All the more remarkable, we will add, because Simonson was black and gay man. It is curious, we think, that none of the short biographies online make any mention of this fact. Nor was he of a complexion that would have facilitated his "passing". Clearly he was a towering talent, and he moved among people that his demographic identity was beside the point. Plus there is nothing obvious is his prodigious output that would connect him to this identity, perhaps, but the same was certainly as much the case with other artists who still could not escape their being defined by their demographic label. Oblong 4to. 24 by 31 cm. xix, 100, [2], 80 pp. The illustrations are concentrated at the end, the final 80 paginated pages. Illustrations are mostly b/w photos, but there are full color plates, all of drawings for costumes and sets. The book is uncommon in commerce -- there were no copies available online on the date of this listing. Being oblong, the hinges have been re-inforced to counteract what had become a shake. Otherwise, typical light to moderate wear. Generally clean leaves, with light age toning.…