May 19, 2022 - Sale 2605

Sale 2605 - Lot 190

Price Realized: $ 1,250
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000

ERNST A. HEINIGER (1909-1993)

SO TELEPHONIEREN. 1951.


49 1/2x35 inches, 125 3/4x89 cm. Ringier & Co., Zofingen.
Condition B+: slightly faded; minor time-staining at edges; minor repaired tears at edges; creases and minor abrasions at edges and in image.

Heiniger was an accomplished artist, designer, photographer and cinematographer. Here, introducing the new technology of telephones to the general Swiss public, he accomplishes efficient information delivery by using a photomontage and an arrow to delineate where a person should speak so they can be heard clearly on the other end. He designed a number of posters, including several others promoting the use of telephones, each with a pronounced photographic element. "The large lettering is hand drawn, the telephone set and the face are separate photographs montaged together. This technique was the forerunner of Müller-Brockmann's photographic road safety posters who owes a great deal to Heiniger" (Swiss Graphic Design p. 192). This is the German version. Swiss Graphic Design p. 192 (var).