German Advertising Poster for Helm Dauerbucher by Oppenheim, 1910

This is a German advertising poster for Helm Duration books (Dauerbucher) by Louis Oppenheim created in the Plakatstil style (German for “poster style”.) This poster features all of the hallmarks of the Plakastill style: bold lettering in flat colors surrounding a simplified central object. The modernity of this style was in response to – and was a defiant rejection of – the baroque complexity of the Art Nouveau style that was popularized in France. Bold green and orange lettering reading, “Helm Duration Books – by judgement of experts – highest perfection!” sits in the top center of the image. Below are two books, a small stacked on top of a larger one, that have been simplified to mimic the feeling of the bold, block lettering above. The combination creates a simple yet exciting poster that still looks modern today.

Interesting to note, Louis Oppenheim (1879-1936) was not only a German graphic artist and painter, but also a type designer. He created several important typefaces while working for the company Berthold, including Lo-Type and Fanfare which are still in wide use today.

This original advertising poster was printed by Graph Kunstanstalt Ashelme Co Berlin n39, 1910s.