E. McKnight Kauffer: The Artist in Advertising [Hardcover]

Hailed in his lifetime as the poster king, E. McKnight Kauffer's designs for the London transport system, Alfred Hitchcock, and others are an enduring influence on contemporary advertising and graphic arts.

E. McKnight Kauffer (American, 1890-1954) was a pioneering figure who transformed the field of graphic design between the wars. He drew upon the emerging visual languages of Cubism, Vorticism, and Surrealism to create a modern graphic style that shaped the development of commercial art. Through collaborations with his avant-garde peers in art, literature, and design, including the Bloomsbury Group, Marion Dorn, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, Aldous Huxley, and Man Ray, Kauffer expanded the scope and impact of his field.

This groundbreaking publication is the first to address the full range of Kauffer's career, from sophisticated designs for major clients--including the London transport system, Random House, American Airlines, and Shell, as well as Allied propaganda posters during World War II--to book covers, rugs, costumes, and stage sets. An interdisciplinary group of authors offer critical perspectives on the cultural context of Kauffer's work, bringing new attention to the designer's depictions of race, gender, and global politics. ...a superbly designed and illustrated accompanying book... —DESIGN OBSERVER

Edward McKnight Kauffer (1890 – 1954) was an American visual artist and designer who was a veritable giant of poster design in the ’20s and ’30s. He spent a lot of time in the United Kingdom, and is perhaps best known for the treasure trove of iconic work he created during his time there. The “poster king” created eye-catching artwork for the likes of the London Underground, Random House, the Great Western Railway, and American Airlines. He also created Allied propaganda posters during WWII. E. McKnight Kauffer: The Artilp