Hans Arnold Rothholz

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Hans Arnold Rothholz (1919–2000) was a poster designer and graphic artist born in Dresden, Germany who immigrated to Britain in 1933. As a friend and colleague of Tom Eckersley, George Him and Abram Games, Rothholz belonged to a generation of designers who transformed visual communication in Britain.[1]

Rothholz's posters are featured in many public collections, including the Imperial War Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the London Transport Museum,[2] and his archive is located at University of Brighton Design Archives.[3]

Education[]

Rothholz began his artistic training at Willesden School of Art, then studied commercial art and display design at the Reimann School, London (1938-9) - a successor of the renowned Reimann Schule in Berlin. He was one of the few students to receive the Reimann School Diploma.[4]

Career[]

1940s[]

During the Second World War Rothholz was interned in Canada, Liverpool, and on the Isle of Man,[5] however he returned to London in 1942 where he established a successful career as a graphic and information designer.

Rothholz designed posters for various clients, including the Post Office[6] and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).[7] He also designed promotional material for Wembley Stadium which included the 1948 Olympic Games.

1950s[]

In 1951 Rothholz was commissioned to work on the Land Travelling Exhibition as part of the Festival of Britain. He also designed film posters for Ealing Studios.[8]

Rothholz's other clients from the 1950s included BEA, BOAC, Perera, Lyons & Co and Splendida. Rothholz also designed the programme for the 1957 World Scout Jamboree.

1960s[]

Rothholz designed graphic schemes and murals for the Bacon & Egg and Grill & Cheese restaurant chains.[9] Throughout the 1960s, Rothholz re-branded Winsor & Newton art materials, and towards the end of the decade, he created a new corporate identity for Wellcome, including packaging, vehicle liveries and stationery.[10]

In 1961 Rothholz was asked to design the Society of Industrial Artists' (SIA) showcase exhibition The Art of Persuasion, and was elected a Fellow of the Society of Industrial Artists in 1962. He also served on the SIA’s Council.[2]

Post-humous[]

In 2006, British clothing designer Margaret Howell exhibited a collection of Rothholz's posters at her flagship Wigmore Street store,[11] and in 2007 produced a calendar of his poster designs.

BFI Southbank displayed a selection of original posters, photographs and press material from Ealing Studios in 2012, including Rothholz's poster for They Came to a City (1945).[12]

Gallery[]

  • A hand injured by a wooden stick which is also a pole bearin Wellcome L0026443

  • Get First Aid Quickly (recto) wrong - Right (verso) Art.IWMPST14495

  • Letters to the Forces and the Merchant Navy Art.IWMPST10029

  • Sepsis (recto) cut 'em Short (verso) Art.IWMPST14487

  • Telephone Line Time is Precious Art.IWMPST4037

References[]

  1. ^ Brief biography and examples of work
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Breakell, Sue and Whitworth, Lesley, "Émigré Designers in the University of Brighton Design Archives", Journal of Design History, 2013
  3. ^ HA Rothholz Archive, University of Brighton Design Archives
  4. ^ Suga, Yasuko, The Reimann School, Artmonsky Arts, 2013, ISBN 978-0-9573875-3-9
  5. ^ Artist biography- Hans Arnold Rothholz, London Transport Museum
  6. ^ The British Postal Museum and Archive
  7. ^ World War 2 Posters - RoSPA website
  8. ^ Article on BFI website
  9. ^ No Room For Horse Play Here - examples of Rothholz's work
  10. ^ Poster Subject Specialist Network 2013
  11. ^ Review of H. A. Rothholz exhibition
  12. ^ "Ealing Studios: Posters Galore - in Pictures" The Guardian 16 October 2012

Further reading[]

  • Lawrence, David, A Logo For London, Laurence King Publishing, 2013, ISBN 978-1-78067-296-0
  • Moore, Colin, Propaganda Prints: A History of Art in the Service of Social and Political Change, A&C Black Publishers, 2010, ISBN 978-140-81-0591-7
  • Rennie, Paul, Design: GPO Posters, Antique Collector's Club, 2010, ISBN 978-1-85149-596-2

External links[]

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