Lucian Bernhard (born Emil Kahn, March 15, 1883 – May 29, 1972) was a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
graphic design
Graphic design is a profession, academic discipline and applied art that involves creating visual communications intended to transmit specific messages to social groups, with specific objectives. Graphic design is an interdisciplinary branch of ...
er,
type designer
Type design is the art and process of designing typefaces. This involves drawing each letterform using a consistent style. The basic concepts and design variables are described below.
A typeface differs from other modes of graphic production su ...
, professor,
interior design
Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. With a keen eye for detail and a Creativity, creative flair, an ...
er, and artist during the first half of the twentieth century.
Career
Bernhard was influential in helping create the design style known as ''
Plakatstil'' (Poster Style), which used reductive imagery and flat-color as well as ''Sachplakat'' ('object poster') which restricted the image to simply the object being advertised and the brand name. He was also known for his designs for Stiller shoes, Manoli cigarettes, and Priester matches.
Though he studied briefly at the
Akademie in
Munich
Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
, he was largely self-taught. He moved to
Berlin
Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
in 1901 where he worked as a poster designer and art director for magazines. Around the beginning of World War 1, Brenhard, among other artists, contributed greatly to instilling support for the war effort in German civilians through propaganda. His posters, following Plakatstil, allowed for a clear and direct message to the audience that bolstered nationalism through depictions of the current enemy in a "them versus us" mentality. In 1920, he became a professor at the
Akademie der Künste
The Academy of Arts () is a state arts institution in Berlin, Germany. The task of the Academy is to promote art, as well as to advise and support the states of Germany.
The academy's predecessor organization was founded in 1696 by Elector F ...
until 1923, when he
emigrated
Emigration is the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere (to permanently leave a country). Conversely, immigration describes the movement of people into one country from another (to permanentl ...
to
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. In 1928, he opened the Contempora Studio with
Rockwell Kent
Rockwell Kent (June 21, 1882 – March 13, 1971) was an American painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager.
Biography
Rockwell Kent was born in Tarrytown, New York. Kent was of English American, English descent. ...
,
Paul Poiret,
Bruno Paul
Bruno Paul (19 January 1874 – 17 August 1968) was a German architect, illustrator, interior designer, and furniture designer.
Trained as a painter in the royal academy just as the Munich Secession developed against academic art, he first ca ...
, and
Erich Mendelsohn
Erich Mendelsohn (); 21 March 1887 – 15 September 1953) was a German-British architect, known for his expressionist architecture in the 1920s, as well as for developing a dynamic functionalism in his projects for department stores and cinem ...
where he worked as a graphic artist and interior designer. In Germany, Bernhard's typefaces were initially favored by the
Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party ( or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor ...
, but were later banned under the mistaken assumption that he was
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
(largely due to his Jewish-sounding birth name). Later in life, Bernhard worked primarily as a painter and sculptor until his death on May 29, 1972.
[Friedl, Ott, and Stein, pp. 124–5.]
Personal life
Emil Kahn was born in
Cannstatt, now a district of
Stuttgart
Stuttgart (; ; Swabian German, Swabian: ; Alemannic German, Alemannic: ; Italian language, Italian: ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, largest city of the States of Germany, German state of ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, on March 15, 1883. He changed his name to Lucian Bernhard in 1905. His first name is often spelled ''Lucien''.
Lucian Bernhard was the father of the photographer
Ruth Bernhard.
See also
*
List of AIGA medalists
Following is a list of AIGA medalists who have been awarded the American Institute of Graphic Arts medal.
On its website, AIGA says "The medal of the AIGA, the most distinguished in the field, is awarded to individuals in recognition of their ex ...
Notes
References
*Rollins, Carl Purlington ''American Type Designers and Their Work.'' in
Print, V. 4, #1.
*Jaspert, W. Pincus, W. Turner Berry and A.F. Johnson. ''The Encyclopedia of Type Faces.'' Blandford Press Lts.: 1953, 1983. .
* MacGrew, Mac, "American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century," Oak Knoll Books, New Castle Delaware, 1993, .
*Friedl, Ott, and Stein, ''Typography: an Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History.'' Black Dog & Levinthal Publishers: 1998. .
Further reading
*
External links
* Long, Christopher e
"Design and reform: The making of the Bauhaus."''(Magazine) The Antiques Magazine'' (2009)
AIGA Medalist article “Proto-Modernist” by Steven HellerArt Directors Club biography and images of work* Touring exhibitio
"Lucian Bernhard. Advertising and Design at the Dawn of the 20th Century"Plakatstil (International posters)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernhard, Lucian
AIGA medalists
German graphic designers
German poster artists
German typographers and type designers
1883 births
1972 deaths
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich alumni
World War I propaganda