Ring “neue Werbegestalter”
(Circle of New Advertising Designers)

Max Burchartz (German, 1887–1961; founding member)
Poster: Kunst der Werbung (Advertising Art),
Ausstellungshallen Essen (May 30–July 1, 1931), 1931
Offset lithograph, 23 x 32.4” (58.2 x 82.5 cm)

In 1928, Kurt Schwitters initiated the Ring “neue Werbegestalter” (Circle of New Advertising Designers), an exhibiting society dedicated to promoting modern graphic design. Physically dispersed, members received typed circulars by mail. The formation of the group was announced in journals including Das Neue Frankfurt and Das Kunstblatt. While its nine founding members were based in Germany, they were soon joined by Dutch members (Paul Schuitema and Piet Zwart) and by guest exhibitors from Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, and Switzerland. Between 1928 and 1931 the group participated in twenty-three exhibitions held in Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Denmark, and Sweden. For an in-depth study of the final Ring exhibition held at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (June 20–July 12, 1931), see: Ring "neue werbegestalter": die Amsterdamer Ausstellung 1931 (Wiesbaden: Das Museum, 1990).

Founding members: Willi Baumeister / Max Burchartz / Walter Dexel / César Domela / Robert Michel / Kurt Schwitters / Georg Trump / Jan Tschichold / Friedrich Vordemberge-Gildewart.

Kurt Schwitters (German, 1887–1948; founding member) or
Georg Trump (German, 1896–1985; founding member)
Printed matter pertaining to the Ring “neue Werbegestalter”
Left to right: stationery (Hannover, 1928); exhibition announcement (Ring “Neue Werbegestalter,” Kunstgewerbemuseum Koeln, 25 March–22 April, 1928); envelope (Hannover, c. 1928); membership card (c. 1928); exhibition announcement (Sonderschau Neue Typographie, Ausstellungshallen am Adolf-Mittag-See, Magdeburg, August 3–19, 1929)
All: Letterpress, A4 or A5

Works by Ring members are exceptionally well represented in the collection. Exemplary works by key members appear below.

Willi Baumeister (German, 1889–1955; founding member)
Poster: Wie wohnen? Die Wohnung (How Should We Live? The Dwelling), Deutsche Werkbund exhibition, Weissenhofsiedlung, Stuttgart
(July-September, 1927), 1927
Lithograph, 44 3/4 x 32 1/8” (113.7 x 81.6 cm)

Max Burchartz (German, 1887–1961; founding member)
Catalogue cover: BVG Bochumer Verein für Bergbau und Gussstahlfabrikation (BVG Bochum Association for Mining and Cast-Steel Production), 1929
Lithograph, 11 7/8 x 8 1/2" (29.8 x 21.6 cm)

Walter Dexel (German, 1890–1973; founding member). For additional posters by Dexel in the collection, click here.
Poster: Die Sport Ausstellung (The Sport Exhibition), Ausstellungshallen am Adolf-Mittag-See, Magdeburg (September 25–October 13, 1929), 1929
Lithograph, 33 1/8 x 23 1/2” (84.1 x 59.7 cm)

Hans Leistikow (German, 1892–1962; member by 1929)
Poster: Internationale Planausstellung: Die Wohnung für das Existenzminimum (International Plan Exhibition: The Dwelling for Minimal Existence), Haus Werkbund, Frankfurt-am-Main (26 October–10 November, 1929), 1929
Lithograph, 45 7/8 x 33 1/16" (116.5 x 84 cm)

Robert Michel (German, 1897–1983; founding member). For Michel’s involvement with Das Neue Frankfurt (The New Frankfurt), click here.
Poster: announcement for a lecture by Walter Gropius, Moderne Baukunst (Modern Building), Nassauischer Kunstverein, Neues Museum, Wiesbaden (November 16, 1925), 1925
Cut-and-pasted printed poster with gouache on board,
33 1/8 x 26 3/8” (84 x 67 cm)

Paul Schuitema (Dutch, 1897–1973; member by 1929). For additional works in the collection by Schuitema, click here.
Brochure: Nutricia, 100% Soluble Milkpowder (Sole Importer P. v. Berkel, Rotterdam), c. 1928
Halftone lithograph, 14 1/2 x 11 3/4” (37 x 30 cm)

Kurt Schwitters (German, 1887–1948; founding member). For an overview of Merrill Berman’s extensive collection of graphic work by Schwitters, click here. Most of this material was acquired by MoMA in 2018 (itemized here).
Envelope: Merz Werbezentrale: Drucksache (Merz Advertising Agency: Printed Materials), Hannover, 1924
Letterpress (single folded sheet), 9 1/4 x 11 1/2” (23.4 x 29.2 cm)

Brochures from a series designed for the motor pump company
Weise Söhne, Halle an der Saale
Both: lithograph, 11 3/4 x 8 1/4” (29.8 x 21 cm)

Georg Trump (German, 1896–1985; founding member)
Poster: Internationale Ausstellung: Das Lichtbild (International Exhibition: The Photographic Image), Ausstellungspark, Munich (June-September 1930), 1930
Lithograph with cut-and-pasted paper correction, 23 9/16 x 32” (59.8 x 81.2 cm) 

Jan Tschichold (Swiss, born Germany. 1902–1974; founding member).
For an overview of Tschichold’s works in the collection,
click our online exhibition and collection publication.
Poster: Graphische Werbekunst: Internationale Schau Zeitgemässer Reklame (Graphic Advertising Art: International Show of Contemporary Advertisements), Städtische Kunsthalle Manheim (August 7–October 30, 1927), 1927
Lithograph: 34 3/4 x 24 5/8” (88.3 x 62.6 cm)

Piet Zwart (Dutch, 1885–1977; member by 1929). For an overview of Zwart’s works in the collection, click our online publication.
Poster: Een Kleine Keuze Uit Onze Lettercollectie (A Small Choice from our Letter Collection), N.V. Drukkerij Trio (Trio Printers), The Haag, 1932
Letterpress, 11 5/8 x 8 3/16” (29.5 x 20.8 cm)

October 24, 2023