N. Kaplansky. Architecte

Anvers (Antwerp): Editions Tunnel, 1939. First edition. Softcover. fair to vg+. Quarto. 24 leaves, including 17 with photogravures protected by tissue guards. Original black wraps with white lettering on cover. Born in Poland and of Russian nationality Kaplansky settled in Antwerp in 1925, studied architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and built up a successful practice in the early 1930s in Antwerp. He built some of the most remarkable apartment buildings in Antwerp, e.g. the "Residence Prince Albert" at Prince Albert Park as well as private dwellings such as the Swart (1933) and the Henri Courier house (1938). During the German invasion in 1940 Kaplansky fled to Palestine.

Illustrated with seventeen leaves featuring photogravures of Kaplansky's architecture of villas and apartment buildings in various parts of Antwerp, including the districts of Elsdonck and Deurne, and one project in Bruges. With one to three images per page the photogravures show the distinct modernist design of Kaplansky, exhibiting his fondness of the Bauhaus architecture. The sampling of Kaplansky's work includes six leaves with interiors. The work includes a list of of suppliers and contractors working with Kaplansky and seven pages with advertisements at rear.

Quotes featured in this publication:

"The dwellings here were designed by Kaplansky in the knowledge of the new race of healthy body and comfortable attitude. Disciplined and sure of his approach in life, of which an artist said that his beauty does not evoke the Olympia of the junk Gods, but the living Olympia of Pierre de Coubertin." (Maurice Deletang in "Batir")

"Kaplansky is the latest architectural revelation of the Antwerp metropolis, cited above all by builders. If he knows how to design, he also knows how to convince. Kaplansky's firmness in his inspiration and his technique is proof of his creative enthusiasm. If it were necessary to define it better, we would say that Kaplansky is not a convert to modernism, a delusional and clumsy neophyte; deep down, he is a man of this subtle and serious age. P.L.F. in "Batir"

"... Kaplansky from Antwerp, the latter certainly with Leon Stynen, one of the most talented and daring young people." P. L. Flouquet in "L'Art Vivant"

"There is not a colleague in Antwerp who does not admire Kaplansky's work. The lesson of will and technical probity which emerges from them also explains the rapid success of this excellent architect." Pierre Gilles in "Batir"

Text in French. Wrappers with some rubbing, soiling, and creasing. Light chipping and a closed tear to the head and tail of the spine. Book block rippled and lightly soiled throughout along the side of the pages. Despite this, the images throughout are still mostly clean and bright. Color staining from the soiled paper on the very front and final advertising pages. Wraps and two leaves each at front and back in fair to good, interior in very good-, plates in very good+ condition. Quite scarce. Alternate title: L'Architecte Nachman Kaplansky.