Artwork
Masters of the Poster: Poster for Exhibition of Artistic Posters of Wilhelm Söborg
Masters of the Poster: Poster for Exhibition of Artistic Posters of Wilhelm Söborg is a print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gustav Fischer. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2009.581
- Credit line
- Gift of John Bonebrake
About this work
Overview
Created around 1895 by Danish illustrator Paul Gustav Fischer, this printed poster was produced to promote an exhibition of Wilhelm Söborg’s artistic posters. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies late‑19th‑century commercial graphic design.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a modest interior where a seated gentleman peruses a newspaper announcing the Söborg show. He is dressed in a dark coat and striped trousers, a glass of wine rests before him, and other patrons populate the background, suggesting a bustling yet intimate public space.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithographic print, the composition relies on muted earth tones, browns, yellows, and soft whites, to convey atmosphere. Fischer renders fine details such as fabric folds, shoe shapes, and the texture of the wall, while the typographic headline dominates the newspaper’s surface.
History & Provenance
The poster was originally circulated in Denmark to attract visitors to the Söborg exhibition. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition of European graphic works, where it remains on view as an example of period advertising art.
Context
During the 1890s, poster art emerged as a vital medium for cultural promotion, bridging fine art and commercial communication. Fischer’s work reflects this trend, documenting both the visual culture of the era and the public’s engagement with poster exhibitions such as Söborg’s.
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