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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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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

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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".

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