wiedler.ch

book (design) story #362

willem sandberg:
bauen und formen in holland – 1920 bis heute

städtisches museum, amsterdam, 1958
size: 26 x 19 cm
designer: willem sandberg

here a catalogue by willem sandberg (1897-1984) that is entirely in german, since it accompanied an exhibition of modern dutch design and architecture which travelled to austria and germany. the catalogue bears no date, but according to the excellent sandberg documentation (isbn 9021505320) this exhibition tour started in 1958.

the wrappers are covered by a piece of printed cloth, designed by dutch students in a modernist, geometrical style.

the typography is typically sandberg, too: lowercase sans-serif in contrasting widths and weights, all set unjustified.

among the featured works "de stijl" icons like this painting by piet modrian, ...

the famous house and chair by gerrit rietveld, ...

and a textile insert designed by dutch abstract painter karel appel.

the table below is another fine example of sandberg's style: modernist simplicity without the strict formal tightness of the swiss style.