Josef Müller-Brockmann: Posters 1948–1981, 1988. Pro Helvetia — Arts Council, Zurich, Switzerland in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington. 8.25 x 8.25, pp. 36 with English text. Photograph of Müller-Brockmann and his wife Shizuko Yoshikawa in Aspen, Colorado 1979 by Pieter Brattinga. Designed by Josef Müller-Brockmann.
This thoughtfully illustrated exhibition catalog features (24) of Müller-Brockmann’s iconic posters; black and white and color and one per page. Each poster illustrated includes an adjacent black and white line drawing revealing the composition; excellent insight into Müller-Brockmann’s assiduous planning — this alone makes this catalog worthwhile.
Excellent reprinted text contributions by Willy Rotzler (Zurich, 1982), Ashley Havinden (Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, London 1962), Klaus F. Schmidt (Print America’s Graphic Design Magazine, New York 1969) and Paul Rand (History of Graphic Design by Meggs, New York 1983) which sums up Brockmann best with his geometric analogy: “As the circle is perfect, so is his integrity. As the square is simple, so is his work. As the triangle is strong, so are his beliefs.”
A nearly fine illustrated softcover catalog with only light wear to the front cover. An increasingly hard to find catalog.