The Basler Schule and Herbert Leupin's real/irreal still-lifes

Feb 04, 2024

Hi there, friends!

Today I present to you a prolific illustrator from the “Basler Schule”, a Japanese map, a fight between gothic and roman, a concert poster and a barber shop quartet.

Curious to know more? Then… let’s go!

✧An illustrator: Herbert Leupin✧

Herbert Leupin (1916 - 1999) was a Swiss graphic designer known for his poster art. I may have shared several pieces by him in previous issues of The Attic, so you may be familiar with his work. But if not, keep reading, as I’ll share it with you.

Leupin attended the Kunstgewerbeschule in Basel and was an intern at Reklamestudio by Hermann Eidenbenz, also in Basel.

With Eidenbenz amongst other artists, he was a part of the called “Basler Schule” (Basel School), a movement that played an important role in Swiss commercial art between the 1920s and 1950s: advertising products with minimal combination of image and text.

I fell in love with these still-lifes and I sometimes make compilation posts here. There’s a magical glow in them that I absolutely love, like real/unreal pieces.

Just take a look at these and see for yourself, maybe you’ll fall in love with them too:

Herbert LEUPIN // 1944 - Steinfels // 1948 - Maya // 1943 - Bata // 1943 - Turmac

On a different note, he also made more cartoony posters, which I adore, they are playful and full of colour and equally effective. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM ALL FRAMED IN MY WALLS.

Herbert LEUPIN // 1954 - Maggi // 1952 - Rosita // 1953 - Hero // 1955 - Suze

I had to stop myself from putting more of his artworks, otherwise this issue would have been very long. All in all, I think I’m safe to say that I love Leupin’s work.

…

OK, maybe just one more.

Cute.

✧A map: Osaka Metro Train✧

✧An ad: Speedball✧

✧A concert: The Ramones✧

1978 - The Ramones "Gabba Gabba Hey" Concert Poster, Paradiso, Amsterdam

✧A strip: La Crisis del Lloguer✧

OPISSO - 1919 - La crisi del lloguer a Barcelona, L’esquella de la Torratxa.

More than 100 years have passed (the Sagrada Família looked very different), but that’s an issue that sadly feels very up-to-date: renting crisis in Barcelona.