Hans Rudi Erdt

Hans Rudi Erdt (31 March 1883 – 24 May 1918)^[1][2] was a German graphic designer, lithographer and commercial artist known for his contributions to the Sachplakat movement created by Lucian Bernhard.^[3][4][5] His work at the prestigious Hollerbaum und Schmidt art printing company along with Edmund Edel, Hans Lindenstadt, Julius Klinger, Julius Gipkens, Paul Scheurich and Karl Schulpig^[6] make him one of the most important representatives of German poster art between 1906 and 1918.^[7][8][9] Erdt has also been recognized for his innovative use of typography in posters.^[10]

Hans Rudi Erdt
Erdt advertisement poster for Opel Racing, 1911
Born	(1883-03-31)31 March 1883 Benediktbeuern, Bavaria
Died	24 May 1918(1918-05-24) (aged 35) Berlin
Nationality	German
Occupation(s)	Graphic designer, lithographer
Known for	Sachplakat movement, poster propaganda, advertising

Life and work

Born in Benediktbeuern, Bavaria,^[11] he trained as a lithographer and became a student of Maximilian Dasio at the Munich School of Applied Arts. He joined Hollerbaum und Schmidt around 1908, becoming part of the "Berlin School",^[12] where he created what is considered one of the most enduring examples of Sachplakat, an advertisement for the nascent racing division of the Opel car manufacturer.^[8][13] During World War I he created propaganda posters for the German State Film Committee,^{[14][15][16][17]} as well as promotional posters for propaganda films,^[18] some of which, like U Boote Heraus! became quite famous at the time.^[19][20]

His advertising work varied, from Nivea^[21][22] to illustrated weekly newspapers such as Die Woche,^[23] tourism and travel events^[24] and tobacco companies such as Batschari, Manoli and Mahala Problem [de].^[25]

Erdt died in Berlin of tuberculosis at the age of 35.

Gallery

Advertisements

• 
  Reichs-Bücherwoche, ca. 1915.
• 
  Engelhardt Cigarettes, 1915
• 
  Batschari Mercedes Cigarettes, 1914
• 
  Batschari Jugend, 1914
• 
  Den Berliner Börsen-Courier, 1913
• 
  Münchner Kindl Keller, 1913
• 
  Mahala Problem [de], 1912
• 
  Never fail, 1911
• 
  Manoli, 1911
• 
  Manoli, 1910
• 
  Moslem Cigarettes, 1908
• 
  Maxim Bar, 1907
• 
  Herkomer Race, 1907

World War I film propaganda posters

• 
  Hell fight on the Aisne River
• 
  The Great Battle in France
• 
  U Boote Heraus!
• 
  Der Frieden mit der Ukraine, 1918
• 
  Bei Unseren Blaujacken, 1917