Modern Art in Advertising: Designs for Container Corporation of America, 1946 [Egbert Jacobson, Paul Rand]

Modern Art In Advertising: Designs for Container Corporation of America edited by Egbert Jacobsen, Director, Department of Design, CCA, 1946. Paul Theobald, Chicago, USA. 9.5 x 12.5, pp. 120. Printed in the USA. Jacket, cover and typography by Paul Rand.

An influential catalog featuring national advertising from May 1937—June 1946 for the Container Corporation of America. Introductory texts include: Modern Art in Advertising by Daniel Catton Rich, Director of The Art Institute of Chicago and Art in Industry by Walter P. Paepcke, President of CCA as well as a Forward by Jacobsen. Heavily illustrated with (90) works; many full page with (40) in color.

“This catalog is a record and tribute to the artists who always gave us their best; who taught us to understand new forms of expression; who jolted and pleased us; who helped us to see new things we might have missed; who moved us to sympthaty; and who, with practiced skill, put into these pictures what we could not have put into words.” —Egbert Jacobsen

Designs from an international roster of (44) artists and designers are arranged in alphabetical order including: Herbert Bayer, Jean Carlu, A.M. Cassandre, Miguel Covarrubias, Yun Gee, Jean Hélion, Gyorgy Kepes, William de Kooning, Fernand Leger, Matthew Leibowitz, Leo Lionni, Herbert Matter, Henry Moore, Paul Rand, Man Ray, Xanti Schawinsky, Ben Shahn, Rufino Tamayo, Toni Zepf and many others; each with a brief biographical text and black and white portrait. Credits to photographers at the back.

From the jacket: “Since 1937, CCA advertisements have closely reflected company activities. In 1942, they turned to war production, making special packages and shipping containers for food, ammunition, clothing, aviation instruments, hospital supplies, etc. In 1944, Paepcke suggested a series of ads based on the shipping of packages to our allies in the war; a salute to the allied nations’ gallant efforts in common cause. This began the United Nations Series told by (28) countries and their designers.”

A very good plus hardcover illustrated cloth with some stains to the covers. In a very good or better complete dust jacket with a hint of soiling, a toned spine and a few small chips and tears to the corners and margins. Well preserved; one of the nicest copies we've seen!