Karl Schlögel’s book explores the unexpected shared origins of two iconic 20th-century fragrances: Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow. Originally created in tsarist Russia, their formulas split during the October Revolution, with one becoming a symbol of the capitalist West and the other the signature scent of the Soviet East. The narrative follows political history and art through the parallel lives of figures like Coco Chanel. My task for the book design was to connect this world of high fashion, history, and totalitarian politics.
The visual concept draws inspiration from the Art Deco period, utilizing its clean, geometric lines to incorporate the figure into the composition. The key feature of the book jacket reveals itself when fully unfolded: the complex network of interlocking lines completely emerges from the silhouette of a classic perfume bottle. This cover design offers a direct interpretation of the book's core theme and its back-cover motto, showing how a turbulent century of imperial history can be distilled into a single drop of perfume.
The visual concept draws inspiration from the Art Deco period, utilizing its clean, geometric lines to incorporate the figure into the composition. The key feature of the book jacket reveals itself when fully unfolded: the complex network of interlocking lines completely emerges from the silhouette of a classic perfume bottle. This cover design offers a direct interpretation of the book's core theme and its back-cover motto, showing how a turbulent century of imperial history can be distilled into a single drop of perfume.
