In times of high oil prices and state subsidies for petrol, this cheerful poster with the inscription “Buy coal cheap now” seems a far cry from reality. It dates from the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the late 1950s, when, following the division of Germany, domestic brown coal was the primary fuel used for heating. Thanks to state subsidies, it was sold at a low price. In summer, prices were even lower. These ‘summer prices’ were intended to encourage people to stock up on coal early.
The poster is a second-year student project by Achim Frank, who studied applied graphic design at the University of Fine and Applied Arts in Berlin-Weißensee between 1956 and 1961. Although it is not known whether the poster was ever actually used, the design reflects the strong practical focus of the studies. On closer inspection, it reveals itself to be a montage: the coal briquette, which stands out against a blazing sun, is a photograph. It is likely that Achim Frank’s coursework was produced whilst studying under Klaus Wittkugel. Photomontages were a frequently used design technique of the renowned applied graphic designer, who himself studied under the Werkbund member Max Burchartz at the Folkwang School in Essen. As a lecturer from 1949 to 1975, Klaus Wittkugel shaped generations of graphic design students at the art college in Berlin-Weißensee.
Achim Frank’s poster and several designs by Klaus Wittkugel, including a logo for the art college and the neon signage for Café Moskau and the Kino International, are on display in the new special exhibition “Designing for Berlin. Design from the Academy of Art Berlin-Weißensee” at the Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge.
