Every time I open my eyes, there is an insightful and visually resplendent new book on German and Bauhaus design and typography by Patrick Rössler. Fortunately for us all, New Typographies Bauhaus & Beyond: 100 Years of Functional Graphic Design in Germany is published in English and German. The postwar years, prior to the Nazi’s war on Modernism, were a fertile period for German graphic design and advertising. Led by avant gardists, when seen separately or as critical mass, it is clear a visual revolution was in progress.
Published to coincide with last year’s Bauhaus anniversary, which was the catalyst for The New Typography, the material collected never goes out of date. Witness some of the rarities examined below.
Wilhelm Lesemann, covers for the influential Typographische Mitteilungen
Advertising brochure “Ein Buch vom Sport” by Jan Tschichold
Covers by Walter Dexel (left) and Xanti Schawinsky (right)
Hanns & Mila Hoffmann-Lederer
John Heartfield book cover for Illja Ehrenburg’s Die traumfabrik
Advertisement by Lotte Pottel
Brochure cover by Carl Ernst Hinkefß (Wilhelm Defke’s studio partner)
Cover for exhibition of Maske Theater by Wilhelm Deffke
PRINT is back. And soon, we’ll be relaunching with an all-new look, all-new content and a fresh outlook for the future. Stay tuned.
About Steven Heller
Steven Heller is the co-chair of the SVA MFA Designer /Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program, writes frequently for Wired and Design Observer. He is also the author of over 170 books on design and visual culture. He received the 1999 AIGA Medal and is the 2011 recipient of the Smithsonian National Design Award.View all posts by Steven Heller →