From a series of posters for the Polish Circus. Artist, Waldemar Swierzy. From Graphis Posters 1973.
The end of World War II marked the dawn of a new period in the development of Polish poster art, which became known as the Polish School of Posters. The recently installed Communist regime began commissioning artists to design posters not only with social and political messages, but also and more prominently to promote the many aspects of the government-run cultural media: concerts, exhibitions, film, jazz, opera, theater, etc. and the circus (cyrk in Polish).
Building sites throughout Poland were enclosed with wooden fences, which were quickly covered with posters. These fences served as billboards and events’ notices as well as support for the art of the street. Circus became both the most internationally recognized and acclaimed subject depicted by the Polish School of Posters.
They are gorgeous.
Hubert Hilscher CYRK Illustration
From a series of posters for the Polish Circus. Artist, Hubert Hilscher. From Graphis Posters 1973.
From a series of posters for the Polish Circus. Artist Roman Cieslewicz. From Gebrauchsgraphik No. 12, 196
“Cyrk” poster designed by Hubert Hilscher (1924-1999), Poland (1965)
Jan Mlodozeniec CYRK Illustration
From a series of posters for the Polish Circus. Artist Jan Mlodozeniec. From Gebrauchsgraphik No. 12, 1966.
From a series of posters for the Polish Circus. Artist, Wiktor Górka. From Graphis Annual 69/70.
From a series of posters for the Polish Circus. Artist Maciej Urbaniec. From Gebrauchsgraphik No. 12, 1966.
For a circus founded by the Knie family (Switzerland). Artist Herbert Leupin. From Graphis Annual 57/58.
“Cyrk” poster designed by Jacek Neugebauer (b.1934), Poland (1970)
“Cyrk” poster by Waldemar Swierzy (b.1931), Poland (c.1977)
“Cyrk” poster designed by Hubert Hilscher (1924-1999), Poland (1967)
Poster for Circus Benneweis (Denmark). Artist, Erick Stockmarr. From Gebrauchsgraphik Nol 7, 1955.
From a series of posters for the Polish Circus. Artist Jan Mlodozeniec. From Gebrauchsgraphik No. 12, 1966
“Cyrk” poster designed by Hubert Hilscher (1924-1999), Poland (1973)
For a circus founded by the Knie family (Switzerland). Artist, Hans Erni. From Graphis Annual 67/68.
Maciej Urbaniec Illustration
From a series of posters for the Polish National Circus. From Graphis Annual 63/64.
Hans Erni Circus Illustration 2
For a circus founded by the Knie family (Switzerland). Artist, Hans Erni. From Graphis Posters 1973.
Gerta & Alfred Haller Illustration
One of a series of posters for Barlay Circus (Germany). From Graphis Annual 56/57.
“Cyrk” poster by Jerzy Czerniawski (b.1947), Poland (1975)
Herbert Leupin Illustration 4
Poster for Knie, the Swiss national circus. From Graphis Annual 62/63.
Maggie Baaring Illustration
Detail from a Danish circus poster. From Graphis Annual 56/57
Gerta and Alfred Haller Illustration
Poster for Barley Circus. From an article on the best German posters of 1954 in Gebrauchsgraphik No. 8, 1955.
“Cyrk” poster designed by Hubert Hilscher (1924-1999), Poland (1966)
“Cyrk” poster by Jan Sawka (1946-2012), Poland (1974)
Via: Sandi Vincent, Collier Collective, Circopedia
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.
