Literary Art and Illustration

Here’s the second of three posts showing the cover art and illustrations of Albatros. Like the first, this second issue was published in Warsaw in 1922.

The following is from Foldari Books’ 2018 catalog description of this issue:

“All illustrations of the second issue (front and rear covers’ Expressionist linocuts, pencil drawing on rear cover, and two inner illustrations) were designed by Marek Szwarc. This number contains three of Greenberg’s texts “Der mentsh shrayt” (The Man Cries) “Uri Zvi farn tseylem INRI” (Uri Zvi in Front the Cross INRI) whose text is set in the form of a cross, and the blasphemous “Royte epl fun veybeymer” (Red Apples from the Trees of Pain). Ber Horowitz, Melekh Ravitch, Peretz Markish and Max Erik among others also contributed to this issue. Because of the scandalous writings, the journal was banned by the Polish authorities, Greenberg was accused of blasphemy and he fled to Germany to escape prosecution, thus the last double-issue was published in Berlin.”

My photo of the cover – featuring a linocut by Marek Szwarc – as published in the 1978 Jerusalem reprint…

…and, the cover of Foldari Books’ copy:

Here are the text of “Uri Zvi in Front of the Cross INRI” (Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews)”. This single image is actually a composite of groups of text on pages 3 and 4. In the original publication, on page 3, the text is arranged and limited to the form of a crucifix. On page 4, the text is arranged (like text most anywhere!) as successive horizontal lines. When combined, they form a crucifix and its base.

Here’s page 3 of Foldari Books’ copy, which clearly shows the quality of paper stock used in the periodical’s publication. Again, you can see how the text is constructed in the shape of a crucifix, which is surmounted by the text: Uri Zvi / farn tseylem / INRI.

My photo of an untitled linocut by Marek Szwarc, on page 12…

…and the original, from Foldari.

Another Szwarc linocut, on page 16…

…and the Foldari image of the same page, showing how it occupies only a small part of the page “landscape”.

A third interior (untitled) linocut by Szwarc, on page 20. It appears (well, it loooks liike!) that one of the figures is blowing a shofar.

…and Foldari’s image of the same page. Note the far less stylized human figures penciled within right and left margins.

An acknowledgement…

I’d like to thank my friend Naomi for her assistance with the text associated with the linocuts: “Thanks, Naomi!”

Though – I assume – nowhere near as well known as his contemporaries, artist Kenneth S. Fagg created wonderful cover art for twelve issues of if – Worlds of Science Fiction from July of 1953 through May of 1955. Many of these illustrations are representations of the theme of “space” involving rockets, astronauts, and human exploration of other worlds. Though such images have of course long been de rigueer for the genre, Fagg’s paintings are strongly characterized by a sense of realism – at least, in terms of future technology as imagined in the 1950s – and, rich boldness of color, while lacking the aura of “myth” implied by the works of other artists. This is reflected in Fagg’s work for the United States Air Force. Although I’ve only been able to identify four paintings he completed for that branch of the service (three here and one here), whether depicting fact or fiction, his work had the same stylistic consistency.

That being said, three particular of his covers for if are really striking (did I say “really?!”): July, 1953, depicting a volcanic eruption on Saturn’s moon Titan; September, 1953, illustrating James Blish’s novelette A “Case of Conscience” – this one’s wonderful! (Frank Freas-“like”, but even better than Freas’); March, 1954, showing exoarcheologists on the surface of a newly discovered world.

Here’s one I find particularly appealing, especially given what’s happening in the world of 2024: For the July, 1954 issue of if, it’s simply a thematic illustration unrelated to any story within the issue. So, I humbly contradict what I said above: – While absent of space aliens, spandex-clad damsels, heroic explorers, this is nonetheless a very mythic cover!

While the sun of 2024 seems to be setting, I’ll continue to hope that the sun is really rising.

Here it is:

Here is what it says:

Adventure

Bravery

Civilization

Country

Courage

Discovery

Exploration

Family

Heritage

History

Honor

Inspiration

Loyalty

Memory

Respect

Steadfastness

Tenacity

Valor (it really says that!)

Wonder

This painting is so deeply evocative that, like William Timmins’ cover for the January, 1946 issue of Astounding, and Richard Powers’ cover for Dell’s 1959 imprint of The Sirens of Titan, I thought it worthy of “reimagining” to create an approximate representation of the image – sans title and text – before it actually became the magazine’s cover.

Here’s the result.

So, you ask, what’s inside the magazine?

“The Thing in the Attic”, by James Blish
“Beauty and the Beast”, by Robert F. Young
“Worth Citing”, uncredited essay
“The Small World of M-75”, by Ed M. Clinton, Jr.
“A Monster Named Smith”, by James E. Gunn (as James Gunn)
“Breaking the Time Barrier”, essay by Alson J. Smith
“Lonesome Hearts”, by R.R. Winterbotham (as Russ Winterbotham)
“Fair and Warmer”, by E.G. Von Wald
“Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?”, by Bryce Walton (as Kenneth O’Hara)
“The Big Stink”, by Theodore R. Cogswell