FRIEDRICH WILHELM RUHFUS (1839-1936) BASAR. 1910. 38 3/4x25 1/2 inches, 98 1/4x65 cm. Fr. Wilh. Ruhfus, Dortmund. Condition B+: repaired tears and restoration at edges; overpainting in image. Both Das Fruhe Plakat and Wember, in Die Jungend der Plakate, attribute this poster to Ruhfus, who was also a printer in Dortmund. This wonderfully organized and decorated, yet sparse image, is certainly his best. It is a watershed illustration, combining elements of Secessionist patterned decoration with the simplicity of the Object Posters being designed by Lucian Bernhard at this time. In this previously unrecorded variation, the woman's face is simpler and she doesn't carry anything in her hands. DFPIII 4838 (var), Wember 853 (var).
