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book (design) story #683

werner bär:
schweizerische kunstausstellung basel 1956

schweizerischer kunstverein, zürich, 1956
printer: karl werner ag, basel
size: 21 x 15 cm
designer: emil ruder (cover)

in 1956 the schweizerische kunstverein, an umbrella organisation of local swiss art societies, organized a nationwide exhibtion of swiss artists. it took place at the mustermesse basel exhibition centre.

the catalogue cover is credited to emil ruder (1914-1970). the almost "abstract" design based on letter forms (5, 6, k) and their surrounding space are typical for ruder's style.

the title typeface is akzidenz-grotesk, .. .

... with mono-grotesk for main texts.

the president of the jury, werner bär (1899-1960), a banker and art collector, contributed the foreword.

almost 900 artworks by hundreds of artists were exhibited. only a few were reproduced, like this painting by theo eble.

all ads were designed in the same style as the catalogue, with asymmetric akzidenz-grotesk headlines.