| Creator | Ernst Mumenthaler & Theo Ballmer |
| Printing year | 1928 |
| Sheet size (cm) | 130×91.5 |
| Printing technique | Lithograph |
| Printer | W. Wassermann |
| Condition | A- |
| Asking price | on inquiry |
| Categories | Design & Architecture |
The “International Typographic Style” or “Swiss Style” that emerged from around 1950 onwards generally includes a grid that underlies the design but is not visible per se. The very fact that the grid is almost obvious here could suggest that this original Swiss Poster is an example from a time when this type of design was still in its infancy.
However, it was actually created by Erich Mumenthaler (1901 – 1978) as early as 1928), a progressive Basel architect who also designed furniture and posters. The typography (which is also based on a square grid) was very likely created by Theo Ballmer (1902 – 1965), a designer and typographer who also came from Basel and trained at the Bauhaus and who occasionally worked with Mumenthaler. The poster advertises an exhibition on the implementation of – who would have thought it – standards in industry and commerce, which made stops in Basel and Zurich.
This is an uncut proof, as the sheet measures 130×91.5 cm instead of the usual approx. 128×90.5 cm and there is no imprint with the date and location of the exhibition. Last but not least, the last letter in the second line has an error; extremely rare, precious – a museum piece.
maybe of interest as well:
Lectures on Crafts & Industry | Conference of the Swiss Werkbund