Lapse sünd : Ballaad (Birth of a Child : Ballad)

Gustav Suits / Ado Vabbe cover design & illustrations

Published by Varrak, Tallinn, 1922

About this Item

Estonian language. Octavo 17 x 24 cm. Weight 100 gr. Wrappers 47, [1] pp. The book is in Fine condition without any visible defects, losses, remarks and stains. Neoromantic and symbolist poet Gustav Suits is one of Estonia s greatest poets, and in a sense he occupies especially significant position in Estonian literature. Suits was the initiator of modern Estonian poetry, and exerted an enormous impact on the next generation. He was the intellectual and ideological mentor of the activities of the literary group Noor-Eesti (Young Estonia), probably the most influential literary group in Estonian cultural history. Young Estonia turned primarily to the field of influence of France, but also cultures of the Nordic countries. Suits poetry combines both the very personal and general. It depicts the history of his land and people and reaches out to touch the fate of humanity in general. Each of his books was a new attempt to test the possibilities and boundaries of poetry. The ballad 'Birth of a Child' is one of the ultimate achievements in Estinian modernist cultute of 1920s. It is an impressive literary work, an imitation of old Estonian folk songs, in which successfully united the ancient and modern world views. Circular and perfect in composition, plastic and naturalist in content, the epic lyrical poem depicts not only doula psychical and emotional experiences, but it is also constantly developing and rising action. Book s Expressionist Avant-Garde cover design and twenty amazing illustrations throughout are among Ado Vabbes' best works. Masterful pen drawings reflect poetically with great believability and realism pain and suffering during childrensbirth, not so much in pictures as in the associative chain, in which the most brilliant is the last link, the true symbol of a mother's love - Madonna image. Vabbe s drawings are virtuous - flexible crossing and running lines. Lines combinations reflect movement, mood, patience, joy. The compositions are elegant and flowing, sometimes a strong accent is made on a dark surface. Ado Vabbe (1892-1961) was one of the most innovative and significant artists in Estonian art from the 1910 s to the end of the 1920 s, whose name associated with the advent of futurism, cubo-futurism and expressionism. Vabbe s abstract works are also known. His significance in Estonian culture is founded on his avant-garde work, for which reason innovative cultural groupings maintained close contact with Vabbe.

Seller Inventory # 2

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Lapse sünd : Ballaad (Birth of a Child : Ballad)
• Publisher: Varrak, Tallinn
• Publication Date: 1922
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Eastern European Modernism