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book (design) story #691

(unknown) :
gruppe 1933

kunsthalle basel, 1934
printer: benno schwabe & co., basel
size: 21 x 15 cm
designer: jan tschichold (attributed)

the "gruppe 1933" or "gruppe 33" was an association of basel-based modern artists who worked in surrealist or abstract styles. the artists – their names are listed on the cover – also shared a clearly anti-fascist political view.

this is the catalogue of the group's first exhibition at the kunsthalle basel in 1934. note the signature of one of the featured artists on the first page – was this theo eble's personal copy?

the catalogue was printed by benno schwabe & co., the publishing house jan tschichold (1902-1974) worked for after he emigrated from munich to basel in 1933.

although we don't know for sure if tschichold was directly involved in the design of this catalogue, his influence is obvious: the assymetrical lowercase typography and vertical name list remind of this tschichold catalogue, and mixing typefaces like grotesk and bodoni "the right way" is what he preached in the early 1930s.