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book (design) story #383

ernst a. heiniger:
la / das fotobuch der landesausstellung 1939

orell füssli verlag, zürich, 1939
size: 28 x 21 cm
photographer: ernst a. heiniger
designer: ernst a. heiniger

we came across swiss photographer and graphic designer ernst a. heiniger (1909-1993) before, see stories 81, 325.

this photo book was published at the occasion of the the 1939 swiss national exhibition "landi" in zürich.

the typography relies on sansserif, with centred titles. the rather odd western saloon style typeface for "la" (short for "landes-ausstellung") was also used in some places of the exhibition.

the "landi" coincided with the beginning of ww2, and developed into a statement of national independence while propagating the cultural diversity of switzerland.

hans erni (see story 381) created a monumental wall painting (below left) – 5 metres high and 100 metres long!

the swiss industry was showing off: they built a cablecar across the lake, just for the exhibition.

although most of the artwork was rather traditional, some artists "smuggled in" some abstract pieces, like this clownesque sculpture by leo leuppi below right.

at the end of the book the monumental scupture of a swiss worker putting on his helmet and army uniform, in order to defend his country's "650 years of independence".