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JOSEF MARIA OLBRICH (1867-1908)
4
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KOLNER AUSSTELLUNG. 1907.
41
3
/
4
x26 inches, 106x66 cm. M. Dumont Schauberg, Koln.
Condition B+: repaired tears at edges, some affecting text; minor replaced losses at edges; minor creases and
restoration in margins and image; horizontal fold; collector’s ink stamp and pencil notation in image.
Mounted on stiff paper.
Olbrich was a multi-talented architect and graphic designer. In 1897, he was a founding member of
the Viennese Secession movement, for which he designed the signature exhibition hall and two posters
for the group's second and third shows. Mounting on this success, he also designed several posters for
the Kunstler Kolonie in Darmstadt, which he founded in 1899 with Peter Behrens. In 1907 he was
asked, along with other German artistic luminaries, to help organize the Kolner Ausstellung exhibition
held at the Cologne Botanical Gardens. The six-month show of arts and crafts featured the traditional
artistic categories of paintings and sculpture in the main building, while rotating exhibitions were
held in two separate buildings showcasing tapestries, jewelry, book art, children's toys, ceramics, glass,
metal work, posters and more. To advertise the exhibition, Olbrich presents a stylized Athena within
a decorative, floral frame. The title of the show is presented in Classical Roman typography, while the
remaining text was accomplished in a gentle sans-serif, the result of Olbrich's modest touch of
"modernism" to what is a traditional exhibition. Presumably, his use of floral elements was a graphic
nod to the venue. The poster was printed in different color variants, including green and purple. This
is the red version. DFP-III 2432, Wember 631, Kunst 341 (var).
[3,000/4,000]