Simplicissimus Illustrierte Wochenschrift
Date1896
Artist
Thomas Theodor Heine
(German painter, printmaker, author, 1867–1948)
Illustration CitationAdvertising poster for Simplicissimus, 1897
Les Affiches Étrangères
MediumCommercial lithograph
Dimensionscomposition: 7 1/2 × 5 7/16 in. (19.1 × 13.8 cm)
sheet: 10 1/4 × 8 7/16 in. (26 × 21.4 cm)
sheet: 10 1/4 × 8 7/16 in. (26 × 21.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Helen Farr Sloan, 1986
Object number1986-185
On View
Not on viewClassificationsPRINT
Label TextSimplicissimus was a satirical German magazine that began publication in 1896. The magazine combined bold political content and cutting-edge graphic design. In the early 20th century, the publication was greatly admired by American artists, including John Sloan and the founders of The Masses.Heine created this Simplicissimus poster in 1897 as one of the magazine's co-founders. His powerful image marked a radical departure from the then-prevalent Art Nouveau.
In the poster, the woman being swept away appears in Art Nouveau style; she writes the new magazine's name with the tail of the devilish figure. The latter - representing satire - fails to notice her action.