c. 1905 – c. 1920
A German advertising style defined by visual reduction, typically featuring a single product rendered with an element of realism alongside a brand name. Developed by designers such as Lucian Bernhard, it rejected decorative Art Nouveau in favour of direct communication.
Sachplakat (the object poster) was developed in Germany from around 1906, characterised by the reduction of the image to a single object against a plain background, with the product name rendered in bold lettering. Lucian Bernhard and Ludwig Hohlwein were two prominent designers. The style spread across Germany and Austria, with designers including Julius Klinger and O. H. W. Hadank each developing distinct variations. The archive documents the style through collected work spanning its peak period of 1906 to 1930. See also Art Deco and 1910s graphic design history.
Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Movements, Typography & Type Design
From Jugend and Ver Sacrum to Penrose Annual, an essay on design movements, shaping modernism, and early graphic design.
Read ArticleExplore designers central to this movement including Lucian Bernhard, Ludwig Hohlwein, and Julius Klinger. See also German graphic design history and 1910s graphic design history.
From the graphic design archive:
Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Ephemera, Members Only Content
Beyond his books, Dick Bruna's vivid colour and simplified forms found their way onto posters, packaging, murals and stamps, many of which feature in my growing collection.
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Members Only Content, Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles
An article on Valentin Zietara , originally in German, published in Gebrauchsgraphik, 10, 1930, written by H K Frenzel translated by E. T. Scheffauer
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Members Only Content, Designer Profiles, Studios & Collectives
A 1903-1904 article on Die Steglitzer Werkstatt, originally in German, published in Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. XIII, October 1903–March 1904.
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Regional Histories, Ephemera, Illustration, Members Only Content
A collected visual record of the Kanto, Chubu and Tohoku Lottery tickets.
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Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Movements
April Greiman is known for her experimental approach to graphic design, her role in the development of Californian New Wave and being one of the first designers to fully embrace the computer in her work.
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Illustration, Ephemera, Members Only Content, Regional Histories
A collected visual record of the first eight years of Japan’s Rural Medical Care Promotion Lottery.
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