wiedler.ch

book (design) story #742

(unknown) :
internationale plakat-ausstellung

kunstgewerbemuseum zürich, 1933
size: 21 x 15 cm
designer: walter käch (cover)

now for something completely different: in 1933 the kustgewerbemuseum (museum of applied arts) zürich organised an "international poster exhibition". the catalog cover (and poster) were designed by walter käch (1901-1970) who was a teacher at the zurich design school. note the "modernist" all-lowercase sansserif text, and the stunning 3-d effect achieved by simple means.

the exhibition included two sections: historic and contemporary posters.

the essay by an uncredited author explains the influence of japanese and chinese art on the early poster artists of the late 19th century.

tipped in plates show famous posters by toulouse-lautrec and th. th. heine.

unfortunately, the names of the contributing contemporary poster artists are not listed.