Manoli poster by Lucian Bernhard 1915

Lucian Bernhard was the first and most successful innovators the Sachsplakat (object poster) where the image is stripped of any superfluous elements and focuses on the item being advertised to which is added the product name in large clear lettering. His use of colour against a black background was also groundbreaking.

Bernhard became one of Germany’s most influential designers and he in turn was influenced by the Beggarstaff Brothers William Nicholson and James Pryde who designed posters between 1894 and 1899.

In 1920 Bernhard became the world’s first Professor of Poster Art at the Akadamie der Kunst in Berlin