Klounid ja faunid : Följetoonid (Clowns and Faun : Feuilletons Collection) [Estonian avant-garde]

Print run 1000 copies.

Near Fine condition; cover edges show light sunning and ocassional wear, few foxing spots on the cover and fly-leaf; internally almost fine.

Scarce and valuable edition, highly unusual selection of the early avant-garde in New Estonian Republic. This was the first Gailit's feuilleton pieces collection, but it has significant literary and artistic value. Book is a replete with illustrations and original graphics by great Estonian artists worked in Tartu, the hotbed of creativity. Here is collected best works of early classical modernists such as Konrad Mägi and Nikolai Triik, also abound works of bright avant-garde representatives - Avo Vabbe, Jaan Vahtra and others. Besides the color woodcut laid down on the original publishing cover and frontispiece (it is the same) by Rudolf Johannes Paris, book includes 92 illustrations. Here are abstract caricatures with prominent Estonian writers and artists by Rudolf Paris, portrait drawings by Konrad Mägi, ex librises and vignettes by Aleksander Tassa, collection of amazing woodcuts by Ado Vabbe and Jaan Vahtra, graphics by Nikolai Triik, great wood engravings by August Roosileht, drawings by Peet Aren, Kristjan Raud, Aleksander Uurits etc.

August Gailit was a versatile Estonian writer, one of the cult literary group Siuru founders. In this feuilletons collection he satirizes Estonian literary scene, especially the same Siuru, which he established himself. It was a sharply critical stance against flaunt and bohemian literary style. Author held a grudge against Friedebert Tuglas, Marie Under and Artur Adson, he didn't leave untouched also artists. Extremely strong is satire "Lady in Blue" there was Siuru members M. Under and A. Adson ridiculed. Book was firstly edited in 1919, but today, a century later, it seems very contemporary in style. This comical publication, type of literary game, sparked a furore at the time and left many colorful legends, which literary people enjoy still.