Edward McKnight Kauffer - part 1

c1920 Edward McKnight Kauffer by Maud B. Davis 

gelatin silver print 

Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York

 Edward McKnight Kauffer was one of the most gifted and internationally admired poster artists of the period 1920-50. An American by birth, he studied painting in Paris before the First World War, settled in London in 1914 and dominated the poster hoardings of England between the wars. Kauffer brought a new distinction to advertising design, insisting that the highest visual values should be enlisted in this field. His flair and integrity as a designer, and the brilliance of his personality, won him an international reputation. Beginning his career as a painter, he was initially influenced by Van Gogh and the French Post-Impressionists. For a period before the First World War he was close to the Camden Town artists, particularly Harold Gilman and Charles Ginner and he adopted their technique of using heavy impasto. In 1919 he became associated with Wyndham Lewis and Group X and in his first wood-engravings he showed his interest in Cubism and geometrical design. As a designer, Kauffer's work was seen by an audience of millions and his name became synonymous with posters of radical innovation, superb colour schemes and formidable attracting power. His many clients included Roger Fry, T. S. Eliot and Aldous Huxley who supported his attempt to make advertising 'worthy of the civilisation that needs needs it'.

This is part I of a 6-part series on the works of E. McKnight Kauffer:

designed 1915, issued 1916 Godstone
colour lithograph poster 76 x 50.7 cm

1915 In Watford
colour lithograph poster for the Underground Electric Railways Co. of London
74.3 x 50.3 cm
MoMA, New York

1915 Oxhey Woods
colour lithograph poster for Underground Electric Railways Company of London Ltd.
75.2 x 50.4 cm
MoMA, New York

1915 Route 59B, Reigate
colour lithograph poster 75.6 x 50.2 cm
MoMA, New York

 

1915 The Heaths. No.178. Surrey
colour lithograph poster for Underground Electric Railway Company of London 75 x 50.3 cm

1915 Wood Interior
oil on canvas 41 x 35.5 cm
Government Art Collection, UK

1916 Godstone
colour lithograph poster for London Transport 76 x 50.7 cm

1916 The North Downs
colour lithograph poster for Underground Electric Railways Co., London 75.5 x 50.8 cm

1916 Untitled composition
(A view of a roof-tops and chimney-pots)
linocut 10.4 x 12.8 cm

1917 Derry & Toms Kemsington W.
 -Economy and Smartness in Men's Wear
colour lithograph poster 149.2 x 101.6 cm
MoMA, New York

1917 Sunflowers
oil on canvas 90 x 71 cm
Government Art Collection, UK

1917 The London Group
Poster for an exhibition at the Mansard Gallery
lithograph 76.8 x 50.2 cm
MoMA, New York

1917-22 Sunflowers
woodcut 22.8 x 17.8 cm (image)
MoMA, New York

1918 El Flamenco
brand label
colour process engraving

1918 Harrier Hawk
gouache original 29.5 x 19.4 cm
© Victoria & Albert Museum, London

1918 The London Group
lithograph poster in black ink 75.6 x 51.5 cm

1918-19 Soaring to Success! - Daily Herald - the Early Bird.
colour lithograph poster 297.7 x 152.2 cm 

1919-1921 Winter Sales are best reached by Underground
colour lithograph poster for London Transport
101.6 x 63.5 cm

1919 Now Proceeding Summer Sale at Derry & Toms Kensington W.8
colour lithograph 149.9 x 97.2 cm
MoMA, New York

1919 Vigil The Pure Silk
colour lithograph poster 91.4 x 60.6 cm

1919 Winter Sale & Derry & Toms Kensington W.8
colour lithograph poster 149.2 x 96.5 cm
MoMA, New York

1920 Aster Time Kew Gardens
colour lithograph poster for London Transport

1920 Blue Bells, Kew Gardens
colour lithograph poster for London Transport

1920 Chingford by Motor Bus  Route No -
colour lithograph poster 75.5 x 49.8 cm

1920 Epping Forest by Motor Bus Route No -
colour lithograph poster 74.7 x 49.6 cm

1920 Flowers of the Hills on the Surrey Uplands
colour lithograph poster for Underground Electric Railways Company of London 53.3 x 50.3 cm

1920 Flowers of the Riverside by Thames and Mole and Wey and Lea
colour lithograph poster

1920 Hainault Forest by Motor Bus Route No.-
colour lithograph poster for the London General Omnibus Company 76.2 x 50.8 cm

1920 Hatfield by Motor Bus Route No -
colour lithograph poster for the London General Omnibus Company 76.4 x 50.6 cm

1920 Reigate Priory Park By Motor Bus
colour lithograph poster for the London  General Omnibus Company 76.2 x 50.8 cm

1920 Self Portrait
pen and ink 22.4 x 19.8 cm
©Victoria & Albert Museum, London

1920 St. Albans by Motor Bus
colour lithograph poster for the London General Omnibus Company 75.8 x 51 cm

1920 The Forest Glades of Epping
colour lithograph poster for London Transport

1920 Windsor By Motor Bus Route No -
colour lithograph poster for the London General Omnibus Company 75.8 x 50.4 cm

c1920 Rompe Espina brand label
colour process engraving

1920s The North Downs
colour lithograph poster for London Transport