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Stenberg Brothers

1899

1982

The brothers Georgii and Vladimir Stenberg (of Swedish-Latvian decent) were born in Moscow (Vladimir 1899, Georgii 1900) and were Constructivist artists and designers. They were part of the (Constructivist-leaning) Institute of Artistic Culture (INKhUK) along with Rodchenko, Stepanova and Popova among others. They made a series of film posters (over 300 in total, as well as sets and costumes) in the mid 1920s for Alexander Tairov's Kamerny Theatre in their birthplace Moscow. According to Eye magazine: “Technological limitations of the time meant that collaged images could not be reproduced to a high standard, so the brothers developed a prototype overhead projector, allowing them to project and distort images, portraits and film stills on to their posters which they then illustrated by hand.” These amazing posters ensured their fame as designers. The had a reputation of being rebels, often riding their motorcyles fast. Georgii died young in 1933 due to an accident (when a truck hit the front of his bike), but Vladimir would live on until 1982.

The striking posters by the brothers for the Kamerny Theatre are an unusual mix of commercial and artistic (Constructivist) elements, which makes them hard to place directly in the realm of Constructivism. Nonetheless the posters are fantastic to behold to this very day.

More images
Further Links
north_east eye magazine on the stenberg brothers
Sources
north_east a pdf of the MoMA Stenberg exhibition catalog
Objects by Stenberg Brothers
Related Designers & Collaborators