LUDWIG HOHLWEIN (1874-1949) STUHR'S CAVIAR. 1909.
41x29 1/2 inches, 104x75 cm.
Condition A-: foxing and slight darkening in bottom margin; minor repaired tears and creases at edges; minor creases in image. Mounted on Japan.
This early poster by Hohlwein reflects many of the graphic characteristics that reverberated throughout his oeuvre, such as the large planes of solid colors and the figures delineated without outline. The scene is an almost comical image of a portly connoisseur casting a sidelong glance as he chooses from amongst a tray of delectable caviar (including Malossol and Astrakhan). "Hohlwein's creations revolutionized poster concepts and poster art . . [his] unique contribution was not in any one aspect of poster design, but in a bold, unified concept which utilized every element in the poster - line, light, shadow, pattern, color, lettering - to create a single effect" (Metzl p. 73). It is interesting to note Hohlwein's signature on this poster is not his usual lettermark, block signature, but rather written in cursive, which we do not believe was used on any other poster. Similarly, it is one of his only posters that does not contain any of the printer's information. Rare. We have found only two other copies at auction in the last 25 years. DFP-III 1356.