Pioneers of German Graphic Design - Part One

In my judgement, by some distance the best book on this subject in English. Comprehensive and beautifully organised and illustrated, it does real justice to some highly accomplished artists and designers whose achievements tower over many of their counterparts in the English-speaking world.  The Weimar years famously created the conditions for an extraordinary explosion of experimentation and creativity in the visual arts as Germany began rebuilding its industrial power. From 1919 the Bauhaus was promoting a reinvention of architecture and industrial design as well as developing the visual language of Modernism and New Typography (Universal, Futura) whose influence can still be seen today. Herbert Bayer’s work is the best representation of the Bauhaus in this book.  

While commercial and public sector clients were increasingly accepting of radically new graphic styles there was a menacing tide of resistance building as the Nazi culture warriors intruded into every aspect of national life. Most of these designers would run into trouble after 1933 with the rise of the Third Reich and many would be barred from working.  Five were forced into exile, one was murdered in the Holocaust while more than a few made unworthy accommodation with the Nazi regime - at least one, Ludwig Hohlwein was a committed Nazi cheerleader who continued to prosper as his former colleagues faced persecution and, in the case of Julius Klinger, death.

Fourteen key figures have been selected for a twenty page extended career survey, including some like Jan Tschichold known as designers and typographers and Peter Behrens whose graphic work on corporate identity for AEG was complementary to his career as an architect (often for AEG) and designer maker. There are others like Hohlwein who were almost exclusively illustrators, with most combining graphic design with illustration. Emil Preetorius was better known for his 9 year tenure as Stage Director of the Bayreuth Festival until he fell victim to the internal politics of the Wagner clan and in 1942 faced Gestapo interrogation after being accused of being friendly to Jews - his release from detention followed Hitler’s personal intervention.  

Callisto Publishers Berlin, 2017 (ISBN: 9783981753912)

Part 2 (Schulpig to Wiertz) will follow soon.