Date: 1906
Size: 36.5 x 28.75 inches
Artist: Thorn-Prikker, Johan
Johan Thorn-Prikker (1868-1932) was a Dutch artist who entertained an array of interests including architecture, lithography, furniture, stained-glass windows, mosaics, tapestries, and book covers as well as painting. He also worked in a variety of styles such as Symbolism, Impressionism and Art Nouveau.
The son of a house painter, he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art in 1881 and, failing to complete his studies, began designing furniture in 1898. He believed in the aesthetic ideal of Gesamtkunstwerk (German for "total work of art"), whereas many forms of art are used so that space is deemed complete and harmonious when every aspect of a room. With this in mind, Thorn-Prikker turned his hand to designing fabrics, painting, and creating mosaics and stained glass windows.
His work here extends to this poster, created to advertize an exhibition of his work at the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum in Krefeld, Germany where he lived and held a teaching position for several years at the turn of the century. A gorgeous poster and an exquisite example of Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) and Dutch colonialism, as the figures, reference Indonesian shadow puppets! The perfect addition to any kitchen, dining room, living room, office... anywhere in need of color and lyrical design. Unlined and in great condition, with minor tears in the right-hand corners and left margin (see photos).