ePoster Gallery 3/2023
Immerse yourself in the world of theatre
The requirements for a theatre poster of high design lie in the structure and policy of the institution itself whose events are being advertised. The choice of programme, staging and the rank of the artistic staff influence the individual graphic realisation in the poster. Clients usually choose a designer who corresponds to the character of the institution and the attitude of their events.
These posters reflect both the style of the theatre and that of the designer. But they also always tell something about the intellectual climate of an era and the special sensitivity of the population interested in theatre.
In this short interview, Ms Nico Lazúla, curator of the poster collection at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, talks about the history of theatre posters.
Is there an overarching style in Swiss theatre poster design?
No, neither conceptually nor graphically. Theatre posters, like cultural posters in general, are an ideal medium for displaying specific, local qualities. In addition to this, cultural poster clients usually allow considerable freedom and encourage an individual design approach.
What are the origins of the theatre poster?
The origins of the theatre poster in Switzerland are fairly modest. In early examples, the message focused on text information in the form of a typographical poster, with the details often placed in an ornamental frame. In some cases, a distinctive motif of the advertised production was also portrayed in the style of a painting. From 1905 onwards, the pictorial and narrative elements of these posters were increasingly eye-catching.
What are the particular highlights among the historical posters on display?
Otto Baumberger caused a sensation with a series of posters for touring operas and gala performances. He placed a motif characteristic to the advertised production at the centre of the composition, making the image suggestively expressive and minimising the text message. The poster he created for Medea features warm tones and is still as impactful as ever.
Hans Falk paid homage to cabaret artist Elsi Attenhofer in a colourful, saucy poster. Max Bill designed a cohesive series of impactful stylised posters in finely graduated colours for Zurich’s June Festival in 1949.
In the 1960s, Armin Hofmann’s design introduced a new, largely abstract poster style. Hofmann transformed theatre motifs into geometric, abstract design motifs. His frequent use of simple black and white was a significant factor in his work.
What characterises the theatre posters of the last twenty years?
Photography, along with painted or drawn representations of the play’s action are most common, with the principal characters often taking centre stage. However, abstract, purely typographical designs are also represented in this period.
Hans Falk
Elsie Attenhofer
1950
Müller + Hess / Beat Müller, Wendelin Hess, Jaques Borel
Illustration: Pascal Möhlmann
Theater Neumarkt – Das Jubiläum
2015
Heinrich Steiner
125 Jahre Stadttheater Zürich
1959
Raffinerie AG für Gestaltung
Illustration: Lina Müller
Gipfelstürmer – Gessnerallee
2011
Atelier Bundi AG / Stephan Bundi
Eines langen Tages Reise in die Nacht – Theater Soluthurn Biel
2014
Eric Andersen
Das Herz als Hirn – Fabriktheater
2017
Armin Hofmann
Stadt Theater Basel
1954
Studio Geissbühler
Lukas Bärfuss – Frau Schmitz – Schauspielhaus Zürich
2016
Max Bill
Juni‑Festwochen Zürich 1949 – Stadttheater
1949
Weber, Hodel, Schmid
Foto: Roth und Schmid Fotografie
Geschlossene Gesellschaft – Von Jean‑Paul Sartre – Schauspielhaus Zürich
1999
Tschumi, Küng / Emanuel Tschumi, Max Küng
Foto: Christian Schnur
Was wird da gespielt? Theater Basel
1999
Scholl Design / Peter Scholl
Foto: Mario del Curto
Théâtre de Vevey
1997
blvdr création / Silvia Francia
Les parieurs – Théâtre St‑Gervais Genève
2003
Aus dem Hause Rüegger und Albisetti / Anna Albisetti, Judith Rüegger
Funkelnder ‑ Du Flunkernde ‑ Schlachthaus Theater
1998
Uz Hochstrasser, David Bienz
Kindertheater Erröffnungsfest – Rote Fabrik
1992
blvdr création / Silvia Francia
Annemarie Schwarzenbach ou le mal du pays – Théâtre Saint‑Gervais Genève
1997
Müller + Hess, Basel / Wendelin Hess, Beat Müller, Jacques Borel
Foto: Hanna Putz
Theater Neumarkt – Glück ist eine Praxis
2014
Cornel Windlin
Die schöne Müllerin – Schauspielhaus Zürich
2002
Atelier Poisson / Giorgio Pesce
Les urbaines – Festival des jeunes créateurs
1999
Mixer / Erich Brechbühl
Perplex – Theater Aeternam – Kleintheater Luzern
2019
Daniel Kunzi
Théâtre St‑Gervais Genève – Les quatre jumelles
2004
Anneka Beatty
Anna Huber – Unsichtbarst – Dampfzentrale Bern
2008
TBS & Partner AG / Daniel Leber, Dominik Büttner
Zürcher Theater Spektakel
2013
Werner Jeker
Nouveau Théâtre de Poche
1986
Velvet Creative Office
Schau Spiel Haus Zürich
2013
Otto Baumberger
Medea
1917
Werner Jeker
Foto: Sophie Steinberger
Ordinaire et disgracié – Vidy‑Lausanne
1992
Tino Steinemann
Saisoneröffnung – Die Dreigroschenoper – Theater und Musikgesellschaft Zug
1999
Scholl Design / Peter Scholl
Effondrons‑nous – Oriental Vevey
2020
blvdr création / Silvia Francia
Illustration: Silvia Francia
Não Não – Théâtre des Marionettes de Genève
2018
Poster collection, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
The poster collection at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich is one of the most comprehensive and important archives of its kind in the world. It contains around 350,000 objects, with about 150,000 catalogued, all documenting the national and international history of the poster from its origins in the mid-19th century to the present day. The collection includes political, cultural and commercial posters. Their diversity of historical, thematic and geographic subjects results in both a panorama of poster art and a glimpse into a visual archive of day-to-day life. Some of the posters are available to view in the museum’s online database: www.emuseum.ch. This database is constantly being expanded.
Rights
The images in this online exhibition are part of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich’s digital poster collection and are for illustration purposes only. Publication of the images or other commercial use for the benefit of third parties is not permitted without the permission of the copyright holders. For information on ordering image templates: sammlungen@museum-gestaltung.ch