MELCHIOR LECHTER (1865-1937)

GROSSE BERLINER KUNSTAUSSTELLUNG. 1897.

28x18¾ inches, 71x46½ cm. Otto v. Holten, Berlin.
Condition B / B+: replaced losses in margins and corners; repaired tears at edges, some into text and upper left image; unobtrusive horizontal fold.

Like most artists of his generation, Melchior Lechter worked in all the different fields of decorative arts. He specialized in painting on glass but also worked in the field of graphic arts, designing books, bookplates, calendars and posters. As one can see from this poster announcing an exhibition of Berlin artists, he was strongly influenced by the work of William Morris. The image has incredible importance as the first pure Art Nouveau image published in Germany, and it represents a turning point in German graphic design. It was designed one year before the founding of the Secession and is the only image from the era we have seen that does not reflect any Hellenistic influences, but rather strongly bears the imprint of William Morris and Eugene Grasset.

DFP-III 1960, Kunst, Kommerz, Visionen p. 46.