On the Spacecraft (1968) (Part 1)

This is yet another "lost" children's book treasure from the Soviet Union. As always if you have a better title translation or can give me better author or publisher information I will add it to the entry.

On the spacecraft. Painted by Stakhursky. Poland: Zaklady Graficzne. 22 cm. 134 p. 

The illustrations/paintings in this book stretch space art into an abstract direction. I am fascinated how soviet art in these children's books can be so much more abstract/surrealistic/impressionistic than the American. Because there are so many great illustrations I will also break this up into 2 parts.

The colors and style make these illustrations beautiful objects separate from the text (which I can't read anyway.)

For example, the cosmonaut floating in the cabin look wonderfully symbolic of the tubes and fitting that you need to stay alive in space. The cosmonaut with his glass of water looks less than graceful and yet the overall image is framed beautifully.

This Russian space station illustration also is wonderful. The purple and blue make it glow like a jewel floating in space.

The rest of the illustrations are even better (and stranger) so be sure to look at the next post when I get my act together.
http://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2014/07/on-spacecraft-1968-part-2.html