The Vanguard: Central European Emigres and American Modern Design, 1910-1940

An insightful and beautifully illustrated new perspective on the role of Central European émigré artists, architects, and designers on American modernism

While the history of modernism in the United States is often seen as having roots in French art moderne, Jewel Stern and Christopher Long instead argue that Central European émigré designers had an outsized impact on the formation of a uniquely American modernism. The Vanguard examines the lives and careers of nearly fifty designers from Austria, Germany, and Hungary--including Paul T. Frankl, Ilonka Karasz, Winold Reiss, and Joseph Urban--who contributed to the early rise of modernism in America. From 1910 to 1940, these figures played a vital role in bringing to the fore the discussion of modernism and contributed to its ascendancy through their designs, writings, and exhibitions. Stern and Long reveal how this modernism reflected distinct American realities and tell a comprehensive new story of modernism’s émigré roots.

The Vanguard examines the lives and careers of these designers, many of whom are hazily known at best, and argues that they had a significant influence on the new modernist aesthetic. Deeply researched and lavishly illustrated with nearly 300 color and black-and-white images, this book offers a full reorientation of our understanding of American modernism and the role of Central Europeans in its formation.

Jewel Stern is an artist, independent curator, and art historian specializing in modern American design and architecture. Christopher Long is the Martin S. Kermacy Centennial Professor in Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin.