Kreisa fronte.: (The Left Front)

Quarto 23.3x15.2 cm., wrappers, 1928-1930, 18 numbers (all published). Cover designs by Ernests Kalis. A bimonthly journal, considered to be one of Laicens' most important publications and the most significant journal of the era along with SIGNALS but esteemed to be of higher literary quality and thought. Striking abstract linocut covers, highly original, in bright colors unique for each issue. As with almost all of the liberal to left wing culture in Latvia, there is a strongly Soviet orientation, and the journal was most likely financed, at the outset, with funds from the USSR. Every issue is illustrated, including some photomontage and graphics. In addition to being a vehicle of contrarian social commentary and promoting open discourse, KREISA FRONTE also was a publishing house which issued poetry and literary books. he editor Linards Laicens (1883-1938) was highly individual, prolific writer in all literary forms, editor and publisher, going against all the conventional currents of the day, leftist and of increasingly Marxist-Leninist persuasion. Like many who were drawn to the USSR for its revolutionary ideals and professed egalitarianism, he emigrated to the USSR and was a victim of the purges in 1938 along with fellow Latvian Gustav Klutsis and other artists and intellectuals. KREISA FRONTEwas published from 1928-1930. OCLC locates but one library holding of this most important interwar journal outside of Latvia (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek). The present set is clothbound, preserving original wrappers.