Novyi LEF

The Novyi LEF or New LEF journal (Russian: Новый Леф, The New Left Front of the Arts) was a literary-critical periodical published by the State Publishing House “Gosizdat” in 1927-28 in Moscow, RFSFR. Futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky served as editor-in-chief, with Sergei Tretyakov replacing him in August 1928. Under both editors, a single issue totaled between 40-50 pages. Novyi LEF was a 22-issue revival of the original LEF journal (Russian: Леф, The Left Front of the Arts), which was published in seven issues in 1923-25. Both LEF and Novyi LEF emerged from the LEF literary group, composed of Futurist and Formalist writers, theorists, and artists committed to a revolutionary transformation of Soviet culture. Novyi LEF consistently showcased photography (often by the constructivist Alexander Rodchenko, who also designed many of the journal’s covers), literary theory and criticism, poetry, editorials, and occasionally creative prose.