Zirkus Artia Signed by the photographer

Radnický, Viktor. Zirkus [The Circus]. Prague: Artia, [ca. 1960]. 4to. 28 × 24 cm. Unpaginated, approx. 50 pp. Signed by the photographer Viktor Radnický in pen on the half title. A striking photo-documentary of circus life, filled with black-and-white images that capture both the glamour of the ring and the everyday life behind the curtain—animal training, performers, and intimate scenes of the traveling circus community. The book is notable not only for Radnický’s sympathetic and poetic eye but also for its bold graphic design by Zdeněk Seydl, with brightly colored geometric compositions and circus-style typography throughout. Published by Artia, the state-owned Czechoslovak publishing house renowned for its beautifully produced illustrated books for international distribution. Active particularly in the mid-20th century, Artia collaborated with leading Czech artists, photographers, and designers, and became known for its daring graphic style and high-quality printing. Zirkus exemplifies this blend of documentary content and modernist visual design. Text in German. Condition: Good. Original pictorial wrappers with some edge wear; ca. 1 cm loss to spine head; small pieces of transparent tape to inside. Bright original cloth cover present. Interior clean and well-preserved. Inv. H7ob