E d w a r d --M c K n i g h t --K a u f f e r -- --1 8 9 0 - 1 9 5 4


Edward McKnight Kauffer was one of Europe's most prolific and influential advertising poster artists during the Twenties and Thirties; as innovative as his more celebrated French counterpart, A.M. Cassandre. In England, where he lived and worked, Kauffer was hailed for elevating advertising to high art, yet in America only the design cognoscenti knew of his achievements when the Montana-born expatriate returned to New York City from London in 1940–after 25 years there. Kauffer had attempted repatriation once before in 1921, when he was invited to show his early posters at New York's Art and Decoration Gallery; at that time he also attempted to find work with American advertising agencies. Except for a few commissions to design theatre posters, "America was not ready for him," wrote Frank Zachary in Portfolio #1 (1949). "So, feeling a 'great rebuff,' he returned to England, where he continued to pile up honors."

 

In 1937, The Museum of Modern Art in New York (under Alfred H. Barr's direction) gave Kauffer a prestigious one-man show. In America, however, the essential Modern poster with its symbolic imagery and sparse selling copy, which Kauffer helped pioneer, was acceptable on a museum wall, but not on the street. At that time most advertising agents blindly adhered to copy-heavy, romantic imagery, keeping all but a few progressive designers from breaking the bonds of mediocrity. Kauffer returned to his adopted country where his work was considered a national treasure. After the outbreak of war in 1940, Kauffer was prohibited, as an alien, from contributing to England's war effort; feeling he was a liability, he and Marion Dorn left the country on the last passenger ship to the United States (leaving most of their belongings behind). Kauffer lived in New York for the next 14 years, until his death in 1954. With a few notable exceptions, honors came to the artist posthumously, including, after 38 years, the prestigious AIGA award.


Charles Eneu Johnson & Co. (Revolutionary Flag Bearer)-- 1925, Gouache.

Signed upper right. With the artist’s ink stamp verso: Designed by E McK Kauffer, 26 Aug 1925 and his original copyright label, signed in ink.

Image size 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches (311 x 241 mm); board size 14 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (368 x 273 mm).

A fine modernist composition, with fresh colors, on cream wove illustration board. Slight toning to the board edges and bottom right margin, not affecting the image; otherwise in excellent condition.

SOLD


Charles Eneu Johnson & Co. (Ranger)-- 1925, Gouache.

Signed lower right. With the artist’s ink stamp verso: Designed by E McK Kauffer, 26 Aug 1925 and his original copyright label, signed in ink.

Image size 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches (311 x 241 mm); board size 14 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (368 x 273 mm).

A fine modernist composition, with fresh colors, on cream wove illustration board. Slight toning to the board edges, not affecting the image, otherwise in excellent condition.

SOLD


Charles Eneu Johnson & Co. (Printing Press)-- 1926, Gouache.

Signed and dated lower right. With the artist’s ink stamp verso: Designed by E McK Kauffer, Mar 1926 and his original copyright label, signed and dated 3/15/26 in ink.

Image size 12 x 9 1/2 inches (305 x 241 mm); board size 14 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (368 x 273 mm).

A fine modernist composition, with fresh colors, on cream wove illustration board. Slight toning to the board edges and bottom right margin, not affecting the image; tack holes in the top and bottom board edges, otherwise in excellent condition.

SOLD


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