Budapest Poster Gallery

2nd auction | posters and poster designs

84 x 55 cm. Very good, restored.

The poster of Károly Reich is an emblematic piece, and a relic of the great turn of Hungarian poster art at the same time.
The poster exhibition in 1948 was fateful: this was the last moment, when the stylizing poster design based on modern principles could prevail. The catalogue of the exhibition says that this kind of 'marketable' attitude of commercial design can be compatible with the planned (socialist) economy. This state of grace couldn't stand for much longer: the number of artistic and political conferences discussing the Soviet example, and urging the complete implementation of the Socialist Realist disciplines grew intensely. The new principle - more realistic and less stylised posters – completely overcame the former trend by 1949.
On the poster exhibition in 1948, they did not have these rules yet, so until 1956, this was the last event when the audience had a chance to see posters having a style different from the Socialist Realist scheme.
This poster is the evidence for the existence of modern graphic design at the time. Reich expresses the quintessence of poster art by using symbols: rooster, trombone, brush and an eye. That is, this genre, the poster art grabs the eye, raises attention, an art which demands attention and at the same time is a real fine art. The poster of Reich uses simplicity as an effective tool: clear, easy-to-take-in figures appear in front of a vivid background: this is how a very good poster becomes emblematic.
Károly Reich is one of the most well-known masters of Hungarian graphic art. He illustrated more than 500 books. He is typical of the precisely sketched, loose drawing. His figures are of a classic beauty and his style has remained unmistakable up until today.
(Anikó Katona)