Pre-Order Hans Hess: Selected Writings Vol.1

Manifesto Press is thrilled to announce the forthcoming publication of Hans Hess: Selected Writings Volumes 1 and 2. Unearthed after 50 years, these important essays and lectures dive deep into art theory and history through a strictly Marxist lens. Hess’ approach and critique unveils a fresh understanding of our visual world which challenges much of the post-modern dogma that our class has had to endure over the past half century. It’s refreshing and insightful and a must read for all workers and Marxists.

Hans Hess left school without any formal qualifications. He spent a year at the Sorbonne before going to the USA familiarising himself with advertising techniques and the relatively new discipline of market research.

Purged by the Nazis from his job at Berlin’s Ullstein publishers, he left Germany in May 1933. He went first to Paris where he worked as an advertising copywriter, then to London where he worked with John Heartfield in the Free German League of Culture and edited the magazines inside Nazi Germany and Germany Today.

War saw him interned in Canada before finding work as Deputy Keeper of Art at the Leicester Museums and Galleries, moving in 1946 to be curator at York Art Gallery

and also artistic director of the triennial York Festival.
His MA thesis on George Grosz was preceded in 1959 by his definitive work on family friend Lyonel Feininger. His monograph on Grosz appeared in 1963; both were published in English and German.

Hess was appointed Reader in the history and theory of art at the new University of Sussex and wrote on art history and Marxism and visual culture.

SHIPPING DATE:
16/12 in time for Christmas

BOOK SPECS:
Each book is printed in the UK to the highest quality standard. The volumes consist of +200 pages, including over 80 illustrations per volume. The books are 23x23cm.