Bernhard, Lucian

Lucian Bernhard (b. 15.03.1883 Stuttgart, Germany — d. 29.05.1972 New York, USA)
Graphic artist, illustrator, painter, type designer, interior designer, teacher. Born as Emil Kahn, he assumes his pseudonym in 1905. Mostly self-taught, he studied briefly at the Akademie in Munich.

In 1901, he moved to Berlin. Two years later, he wined a poster competition for Priester matches. After 1903, he became the art director of the Deutsche Werkstätten für Handwerkskunst. During 1910, he worked with Hans Sachs on the publication of the magazine "Das Plakat". In 1920, he became the first professor at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin. Three years later he moves to New York. In 1928, he opened the Contempora studio with Rockwell Kent, Paul Poiret, Bruno Paul and Erich Mendelsohn. Works as a graphic artist and interior designer. After 1930, he primarily worked as a painter and sculptor.

Lucian Bernhard is one of those who pioneered modern advertising language corresponding to the economic upswing and the accompanying accelerated rhythm of life. As the inventor of the so-called "Sachplakat" – functional poster – he has decidedly shaped the history of commercial advertising. He designed the lettering of brand and corporate names for large firms like Bosch, Kaffee HAG or Pelikan, and today their modern versions still refer to those Bernhard created.

His designs may still be topical and in people's minds, yet he as the designer is largely unknown. This is why the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e.V. is dedicating a comprehensive monographic retrospective to Lucian Bernhard. It includes all of his fields of activity: poster design, typography, book and magazine design.

Pian Pian Zheng

Bibliography
http://www.lucian-bernhard.com/
http://www.ifa.de/en/exhibitions/exhibitions-abroad/design/lucian-bernhard/