MfGZ : Otto Baumberger – Advertising Pioneer

Otto Baumberger – Advertising Pioneer

1.10.2008 – 1.2.2009
Plakatraum

Otto Baumberger (1889 – 1961) was one of the first Swiss who can be correctly described as a "poster designer," even though his personal desire for artistic recognition would remain unfulfilled. As an employee of Wolfensberger AG in Zurich he acquired a sound knowledge of lithography techniques, and used this knowledge to advance and renew the medium, designing over 200 posters. Baumberger was ahead of his time in recognizing important aspects of consumer advertising. Without creating a style of his own, he sought the most appropriate way of conveying a message. His original, inventive images led to a reduction that reached towards abstraction, as image and lettering elements gradually formed an increasingly striking synthesis. The diversity of Baumberger’s work exemplarily embodies the history of Swiss poster art in the first half of the twentieth century, showing the development from the painterly artist’s poster to corporate design shaped by graphic art.

Publication on the exhibition
"Poster Collection" 18, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich (Hg.)
Otto Baumberger
G/E, 97 illustrations, Lars Müller Publishers, CHF 36

Press Clips
NZZ 15.10.08
NZZ 13.10.08
SF DRS Tagesschau 1.10.08
Schaffhausner Nachrichten 1.10.2008
.CH 30.9.08

The Graphische Sammlung der Zentralbibliothek Zürich (Main Library of the University Zurich) is presenting Otto Baumberger's book illustrations and works on paper: 4 October 2008 to 7 February 2009 in the Predigerchor of the Zentralbibliothek, Predigerplatz 33, 8001 Zurich, www.zb.uzh.ch/presse/baumberger.html

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