MUSEUM RIETBERG. Circa 1950s. 501/2x353/4 inches. Condition B+: restored losses and overpainting in corners; repaired tears in top margin. Although Keller was renowned as an excellent typographer he also had an ability, rare in other Swiss designers, to be extremely free and imaginative in drawing and coloring. His 1929 poster for Tabak in a rough, primitive style, is a perfect example of this talent. Here for the Reitung Museum, which houses a large collection of primitive and oriental art, Keller finds his inspiration in Central American painting, with a boldly-colored, graphic representation of an eagle and a snake engaged in combat, a variation on the image which appears on Mexico's coat-of-arms. His drawing is a mixture of stylization and primitivism with orange and red colors that build a warm atmosphere. His genius for graphism is evident with the text, which he centers in the image, and wraps the snake around it. A rare and wonderful image.
