book report: the goddess – la déesse investigates the legendary citroën DS

‘the DS – the goddess – has all the features of one of those objects from another universe,’ famously wrote french theorist roland barthes in an essay immortalized in mythologies in 1957, two years after the citroën car first amazed audiences at its world debut at the paris motor show. since that day – on october 5 1955 – the automobile has become an icon of screen, street and style not only in france but globally. as such, it is seen by many as a design symbol of the 20th century. authored by christian sumi, the goddess – la déesse: investigations on the legendary citroën DS is a celebration of this car. in the new book, reviewed by designboom on its launch, the swiss architect analyzes the iconization that led to its phenomenon, specifically through its ability to effortlessly combine form and technology.

red: citroën DS 23 (1973) and blue: citroën ID 19 (1959)
image © heinz unger, zürich (main image also)

published by lars müller publishers, the goddess – la déesse: investigations on the legendary citroën DS analytically examines the characteristics of the classic vehicle. for this, author christian sumi renews an essay by alison and peter smithson in 2001 as well as delves deep into the archives of the french automobile manufacturer. it questions how the car became – and still is – a prized object of desire for so many, from designers to philosophers and even politicians too. although not definitive, the book tries to give an understanding of how the DS was able to combine such modern forms and technology so coherently and effortlessly, in a way unlike any other car seen before or afterwards. it also highlight how the DS was revolutionary in so many ways, in terms of comfort, safety and not just its form.

sketch developments of citroën ID 19 (1959)

in the attempt to understand, the book carefully arranges picture series and drawings by flaminio bertoni – the equally legendary italian designer who penned the automobile – and the citroën design team to chronologize the evolution of the DS car. the pages detail its origins as an imaginary concept, which was dreamt up to replace their traction avant model from 1934, through to the multiple iterations after its release in 1955 that aimed to fulfil the ever-increasing demands of customers. as well, a systematic series of photographs by michel zumbrunn pinpoints the static form of these different editions. from the side, front and rear views, they explore the relationship of the parts to one another, the typical contour lines, and the derivation of both from technical parameters.

basic skeleton and contour lines of citroën ID 19 (1959)

side view analysis of citroën ID 19 (1959)

as well as these technical drawings and sketches that create an understanding of the allure of the DS’s form, the book also explores the after effects of the car’s debut – how its phenomena grew to an iconic level. it includes many famous examples from citroën’s heralded advertising campaigns from the 1950s and 60s. they hint at a bygone era but reflect how the object is neither forgotten nor irrelevant still today. the snippets from magazines and other commercials places the investigation of the car in both a contemporary and philosophical context. this is key as, when studying the fundamental questions of its form, its image in the media and the reception from customers are tell tail signs of its success.

side view comparison of citroën DS 23 (red) and citroën ID 19 (blue)
image © michel zumbrunn, aarau

available from june 2020, explore the phenomena for yourself by ordering on the goddess – la déesse: investigations on the legendary citroën DS on lars müller publishers.

front view comparison of citroën DS 23 (red) and citroën ID 19 (blue)
image © michel zumbrunn, aarau

rear view comparison of citroën DS 23 (red) and citroën ID 19 (blue)
image © michel zumbrunn, aarau

interior of citroën ID 19 (1959)
image © heinz unger, zürich

interior of citroën DS 23 (1973)
image © heinz unger, zürich

interior of citroën ID 19 (1959)
image © heinz unger, zürich

interior of citroën DS 23 (1973)
image © heinz unger, zürich

the goddess – la déesse: investigations on the legendary citroën DS front cover

book info:

name: the goddess – la déesse
author: christian sumi
photographs: michel zumbrunn, heinz unger
design: karin schiesser
format: 9.5 × 6.5 in (24 × 16.5 cm) / hardcover / 232 pages
publisher: lars müller publishers
illustrations: 198
ISBN: 978-3-03778-626-0
language: english
publish date: june 2020