Erik Nitsche Images
A nice archive of Erik Nitsche images. For the uninitiated, Steven Heller in an article for Typotheque in 1999 entitled “Erik Nitsche: The Reluctant Modernist” noted “Nitsche may not be as well known as his contemporaries, Lester Beall, Paul Rand, or Saul Bass, but he was their equal. This Swiss born graphic designer was arguably one of the last of the surviving Modern design pioneers.” Above: “Guided By the Stars” 20 x 24 inch. watercolor & crayon. 1980; and “L’oisesleur” 20 x 24 inch. watercolor. 1986
Below: Part of a Set of Polichinelles. Closest English translation: puppet, called in German Hampelmann. But the English word does not accurately translate the real personality of Nitsche’s polichinelles (18 inches high in watercolor & ink, 1987). A Polichinelle—the word comes from the Neapolitan Polecenella—has roots in the Italian Commedia dell’Arte. They have a personality all their own.”According to Steven Heller’s article on Nitsche, toward the end of Nitsche’s life he was building “eight foot models of those sculptural toys.” [via link]
