Posters and Catalogues for Landmark German and Swiss Exhibitions, 1927–1945

Internationale Ausstellung des Deutschen Werkbunds, Film und Foto (International Exhibition of the Deutsche Werkbund, Film and Photo), Städtischen Ausstellungshallen am Interimthetaterplatz, Stuttgart (May 18–July 7, 1929)

Willi Ruge. Poster. Lithograph, 32 1/2 x 22 3/4” (84.1 x 58.4 cm)
Designer unknown. Catalogue. Lithograph and letterpress,
8 1/8 x 5 7/8” (20.75 x 15 cm)

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Inspired by the recent acquisition of exhibition catalogues by Jan Tschichold and Max Bill, which pair with posters long in the collection, we share with you today a selection of poster-catalogue pairings published to promote and document landmark exhibitions in Germany and Switzerland between 1927 and 1945. With the rise of National Socialism and the departure of Jan Tschichold for Basel in 1933, the use of “Neue Typographie” (new typography) waned in Germany, but continued relatively unabated in Switzerland during the 1930s and 1940s.

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GERMANY

Europäisches Kunstgewerbe (European Applied Art), Grassimuseum, Leipzig (March 6–August 15, 1927)

Herbert Bayer. Poster. Lithograph, 35 5/16 x 26 9/16” (89.7 x 67.5 cm)
Herbert Bayer. Catalogue. Lithograph and letterpress,
8 1/8 x 5 1/2” (20.5 x 14 cm)

Graphische Werbekunst: Internationale Schau Zeitgemässer Reklame (Graphic Advertising Art: International Exhibition of Contemporary Advertising), Städtische Kunsthalle Manheim (August 7–October 30, 1927)

Jan Tschichold. Poster. Lithograph, 34 3/4 x 24 5/8” (88.3 x 62.6 cm)
Jan Tschichold. Catalogue. Lithograph, 8 9/16 x 6” (23 x 15.25 cm)

USSR Russische Ausstellung (USSR Russian exhibition), Kunstgewerbemuseum Zurich (March 24–April 28, 1929)

El Lissitzky. Poster. Lithograph, 49 3/4 x 35 5/8” (126.3 x 90.5 cm)
El Lissitzky. Catalogue. Lithograph and letterpress,
8 5/8 x 6 7/8” (21.9 x 17.4 cm)

Neue Typographie (Sonderschau: Ring Neue Werbegestalter), Ausstellungshallen am Adolf-Mittag-See, Magdeburg (August 3–19, 1929)

Walter Dexel. Poster. Lithograph, 33 1/8 x 23 1/2” (84.1 x 59.7 cm)
Georg Trump or Kurt Schwitters. Brochure. Lithograph,
8 1/4 x 3 7/8” (21 x 9.8 cm), folded

Die Sport Ausstellung (The Sport Exhibition), Ausstellungshallen am
Adolf-Mittag-See, Magdeburg (September 25–October 13, 1929)

Walter Dexel. Poster. Lithograph, 33 1/8 x 23 1/2” (84.1 x 59.7 cm)
Walter Dexel. Catalogue. Lithograph, 8 1/8 x 5 7/8” (20.75 x 15 cm)

Fotografie der Gegenwart (Contemporary Photography), Ausstellungshallen am Adolf-Mittag-See, Magdeburg (November 28–December 19, 1929)

Walter Dexel. Poster. Lithograph, 33 1/16 x 23 7/16” (84 x 59.5 cm)
Walter Dexel. Catalogue. Lithograph, 8 1/4 x 11 5/8” (20.75 x 29.5 cm)

Plakate der Avantgarde: Ausstellung der Sammlung Jan Tschichold (Posters of the Avant-Garde: Exhibition of the Collection of Jan Tschichold), Graphisches Kabinett, Munich (January 24–February 10, 1930)

Jan Tschichold. Poster. Letterpress, 16 5/8 x 23 1/2” (42.2 x 59.7 cm)
Jan Tschichold. Catalogue. Letterpress, 8 1/4 x 5 7/8” (21 x 14.9 cm)

Internationale Ausstellung: Das Lichtbild (International Exhibition: The Photographic Image), Ausstellungspark, Munich (June–September 1930)

Georg Trump. Poster. Lithograph with pasted paper correction,
23 9/16 x 32” (59.8 x 81.2 cm)
Georg Trump. Catalogue. Lithograph and letterpress, 8 x 6” (20.5 x 15.25 cm)

Internationale Planausstellung: Die Wohnung für das Existenzminimum (International Plan Exhibition: The Dwelling for Minimal Existence), Haus Werkbund, Frankfurt-am-Main (October 26–November 10, 1929)

Hans Leistikow. Poster. Lithograph, 45 7/8 x 33 1/16” (116.5 x 84 cm)
Hans Leistikow. Catalogue. Lithograph and letterpress,
9 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 3/4” (25 x 19 cm)

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SWITZERLAND

Zeitprobleme in der Schweizer Malerei und Plastik (Contemporary Problems in Swiss Painting and Sculpture), Kunsthaus Zürich (June 13–July 22, 1936)

Max Bill. Poster. Linocut and letterpress, 39 1/4 x 27 3/4” (99.7 x 70.5 cm)
Max Bill. Catalogue. Letterpress, 8 1/8 x 5 7/8” (20.75 x 15 cm)

Grafa International: Graphische Fachausstellung (Professional Graphic Exhibition), Mustermeßegebäude Basel (June 13–29, 1936)

Hermann Eidenbenz. Poster. Lithograph, 50 1/8 x 35 3/8” (127.5 x 90 cm)
Hermann Eidenbenz. Catalogue. Lithograph, 8 1/4 x 5 3/4” (20.9 x 14.6 cm)

Die Konstructivisten (The Constructivists), Kunsthalle Basel
(January 16–February 14, 1937)

Jan Tschichold. Poster. Lithograph, 49 x 35 1/2” (124.5 x 90.2 cm)
Jan Tschichold. Catalogue. Letterpress, 8 1/4 x 5 3/4” (21 x 14.5 cm)

Der Berufsphotograph: Sein Werkzeug, seine Arbeiten (The Professional Photographer: His Tools, His Work), Gewerbemuseum Basel
(May 8–June 6, 1938)

Jan Tschichold. Poster. Photolithograph, 24 3/4 x 35 1/4” (62.8 x 89.5 cm)
Jan Tschichold. Catalogue. Photolithograph, 8 1/4 x 5 7/8” (21x 15 cm)

Die Farbe (The Colors), Kunstgewerbemuseum Zürich
(January 23–March 5, 1944)

Max Bill. Poster. Lithograph (central panel tipped-in),
50 1/4 x 35 1/2” (128 x 90 cm)
Max Bill. Catalogue. Lithograph, 8 1/4 x 5 7/8” (21 x 15 cm)

USA Baut (USA Builds), Kunstgewerbemuseum Zurich
(September 9–October 7, 1945)

Max Bill. Poster. Offset lithograph, 50 3/8 x 35 1/2” (128 x 90.5 cm)
Max Bill. Catalogue. Letterpress, 8 1/4 x 5 7/8” (21 x 15 cm)

August 13, 2024