Hans Hillmann’s film posters

German graphic artist Hans Hillmann, who died in May, designed cinema posters for films including Pickpocket and The Seven Samurai and was a prolific award-winner on continental Europe.

Das Irrlicht
Das Irrlicht

London’s Kemistry Gallery, which is putting on an exhibition of his work, describes him as ‘Germany’s equivalent of Saul Bass’, but notes that he was far less well-known in the UK than on the continent.

With the aim of addressing this, the gallery is displaying a selection of the 130 film posters designed by Hillmann between 1953 and 1974 – the first major presentation of his work in the UK.

Kemistry Gallery says the exhibition will show the progression of Hillmann’s work, from the painterly illustration of the 1950s to more experimental works of the 1960s and the Minimalist offerings of the 1970s.

To accompany the exhibition the Goethe-Institut and the Institut Français in London will show a selection of films that Hans Hillman designed posters for, including 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her and Pickpocket.

The exhibition is curated by film critic and curator Isabel Stevens and is organised with the help of the Museum Folkwang in Essen.

Hans Hillmann: Film Posters is at Kemistry Gallery, 43 Charlotte Road, London EC2A, from 21 August-27 September.

Hide Comments (1)Show Comments (1)
Comments
  • doug marquette November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I put picture of hans hillman on facebook.

  • Post a comment

Latest articles