HANS RUDI ERDT (1883-1918) ODEON BAR / WEINRESTAURANT SCHLEICH. 1907. 49x36 inches. Vereinigte Druckereien & Kunstanstalten, Munich. Condition B+: minor tears and discoloration in margins; vertical and horizontal folds. Paper. Hans Rudi Erdt was one of the most prolific poster artists in Berlin at the beginning of the 20th century. He studied art in Munich and then moved to Berlin where he worked with the "dream team" at the printer Hollerbaum & Schmidt, which consisted of Lucian Bernhardt, Julius Klinger and Julius Gipkens. He produced posters for a wide variety of clients, and his designs, punctuated by flat colors and strong outlines, reflect his talent as a draugtsman, along with a great sense of stylization and a flair for layout. Many of his clients in Munich and Berlin were among the most prestigious upper-class bars and restaurants. For the Odeon Bar (for whom Ludwig Hohlwein also designed a poster), he has created a classic, stylish, sharp image, drawn in flat tones. The decadent image of this haughty couple irresistibly combines just enough of the snobbery of the establishment with elegance of design. DFP III 756.
