EMIL PREETORIUS (1883-1973) PREETORIOUS AUSSTELLUNG. Circa 1908. 35 1/8x21 7/8 inches. G. Schuh & Cie., Munich. Condition B+: water stain in top and left margins; minor tears and creases in margins; vertical fold. Paper. Emil Preetorius was a prolific illustrator who, along with Paul Renner (the creator of Universe Type), founded the Munich School for Illustration and Book Design; taught in many of Europe's most prominent institutions; and in 1953 was elected as President of the Beaux Arts Academie. He was one of the founding members of Munich's Die Sechs, and he also did a lot of stage design for operas, leading him to become the art director for the Bayreuth Festival in 1932. In addition, he was a respected Asian arts dealer and, in 1948 he was elected to the Bavarian senate! Preetorius's style could lean towards the overtly cartoon-like, in a manner that could be compared to the work of the French posterist Gustave-Henri Jossot. Preetorius actually had command of a much more sophisticated use of outlining and representation. Here, to promote an exhibition of his own work, Preetorius employs only the white of the paper (no black outlining) to depict an extravagant character walking with his dog. Artistic in the use of the solid background and the bold typography, it is also a very efficient image. It is a perfect example of what he referred to as Romantische Ironie (romantic irony). In 1911, Preetorius designed a very similar poster, except it featured the man walking away from the viewer. DFP III 2586.
