A century of Swiss Winter Sports Posters. First edition. New condition.

Geneva: Patrick Cramer, 2006 (Alan Wofsy Fine Arts distribution). Decorative boards. 32.5 x 23.5 cm. 192 pages, 156 color illustrations,...At the end of the 19th century, Switzerland saw the flourishing of two phenomena that nothing seems to bring together, winter sports and artistic posters. The former find in the geography and climate of the country an incomparably favorable environment, the latter take advantage of the dynamism of talented artists to blossom and develop in an extraordinary movement of creativity. Faced with the necessities of commerce and advertising, the two meet and lead to the production, over more than a century, of thousands of posters, many of which, by their quality, pay tribute not only to winter sports but also to the beauty of the mountain and the genius of those who made them.In order to get to know these exceptional works of art better, the publisher Patrick Cramer in Geneva is today publishing a book, the only one to date exclusively devoted to them, which allows them to be admired, to appreciate their diversity, to understand their evolution. A historical text and a wide choice of reproductions allow the reader to dive into this spectacular universe.The best Swiss designers are present, such as Emil Cardinaux, Burkhard Mangold, Wilhelm Friedrich Burger, Carl Moos, Hugo Laubi, Alois Carigiet, Alex Walter Diggelmann, Philipp Giegel. Some even specialize in what they take to a remarkable level, such as Walther Koch or Carlo Pellegrini. The big Swiss resorts are celebrating, such as Davos, St. Moritz, Grindelwald, Wengen, Gstaad, Montana Crans, Zermatt and so many other places in the Alps and Jura which will sometimes become world famous. This exceptional work, widely illustrated, significantly enriches knowledge of the field and offers the amateur the opportunity to marvel at the contact with quality works of art which, despite sometimes a century of age, remain as fresh as 'on the first day. The text and the choice of posters are by Jean-Charles Giroud, curator of the collection of posters of the Library of Geneva, who has carried out several studies on the history of the Swiss poster.