Lucian Bernhard

Lucian Bernhard studied at Academy of Fine Arts, Munich. The recorded working language is German. Places of work recorded in the authority are Berlin. Employment is recorded with Art Students League of New York. Work by Lucian Bernhard is recorded in the collections of Art Institute of Chicago, Stadsarchief Rotterdam, Museum of Modern Art, Ackland Art Museum and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Distinctions recorded are AIGA Medal.

• Name — Lucian Bernhard

• Illustration — Bernhard's attention-grabbing poster for Priester matches (c. 1906). Bernhard reduced advertising to a minimal picture and a wordmark in wobbly bold lettering. The style became very influential. Bernhard was influential in helping create the design style known as Plakatstil (Poster Style), which used reductive imagery and flat-color as well as Sachplakat ('object poster') which restricted the image to simply the object being advertised and the brand name. He was also known for his designs for Stiller shoes, Manoli cigarettes, and Priester matches. Though he studied briefly at the Akademie in Munich, he was largely self-taught. He moved to Berlin in 1901 where he worked as a poster designer and art director for magazines. Around the beginning of World War 1, Bernhard, among other artists, contributed greatly to instilling support for the war effort in German civilians through propaganda. His posters, following Plakatstil, allowed for a clear and direct message to the audience that bolstered nationalism through depictions of the current enemy in a "them versus us" mentality. In 1920, he became a professor at the Akademie der Künste until 1923, when he emigrated to New York City. In 1928, he opened the Contempora Studio with Rockwell Kent, Paul Poiret, Bruno Paul, and Erich Mendelsohn where he worked as a graphic artist and interior designer. In Germany, Bernhard's typefaces were initially favored by the Nazi Party, but were later banned under the mistaken assumption that he was Jewish (largely due to his Jewish-sounding birth name). Later in life, Bernhard worked primarily as a painter and sculptor until his death on May 29, 1972.

Emil Kahn was born in Cannstatt, now a district of Stuttgart, Germany, on March 15, 1883. He changed his name to Lucian Bernhard in 1905. His first name is often spelled Lucien. Lucian Bernhard was the father of the photographer Ruth Bernhard.

Lucian Bernhard is recorded as type designer, poster artist, graphic designer, university teacher and lithographer. Recognition and collections. Bernhard received AIGA Medal.