wiedler.ch

book (design) story #45

paul renner:
die kunst der typographie

frenzel & engelbrecher "gebrauchsgraphik" verlag, berlin, 1939
size: 25 x 16 cm
designer: albrecht heubner (jacket)

during the nazi years, paul renner (1878-1956) retired to his house at the lake of constance. he was not allowed to accept a new employment, but he still received royalties from his futura type which was a worldwide success.

after a few years renner's persona non grata status loosened up a bit. he was able to publish a book on typography, under the condition that it was not political.

in spite of the nazi's affinity to blackletter type at that time, "die kunst der typographie" (the art of typography) is set in futura. to question the regime's ideology (blackletter = german) renner claims that german incunable printers such as adolph rusch used roman letters before the italians did.

there is no trace of teutonic zeitgeist in this book: renner even uses lots of french and english language examples. also in the photo section, many if not most of the reproduced graphic design examples originate from outside the german reich – e.g. brochures for the schweizerische verkehrszentrale (swiss tourist office): some of these were designed by paul renner when he was suspended from his post as director of the meisterschule, ...

... others by herbert matter.

there are also reproductions of st. moritz tourism leaflets by walter herdeg and dr. walter amstutz.

the dustjacket was designed by albrecht heubner (1908-1945), a german painter and graphic artist who had studied at the bauhaus (info: isbn 3361003040) and later worked for studio dorland under herbert bayer. the photorealistic illustration shows typesetting tools of the "lead age".