Ernst Böhm

Biography

Posters, ex-libris, trademarks, book jackets and covers, textiles, tiles, stained-glass windows, interior decoration, publicity. Born 6 March 1890 in Berlin. Student of Bruno Paul at the Unterrichtsanstalt of the Berlin Kunstgewerbe-Museum. 1913-37: taught there and at the Vereinigte Staatschule für freie und angewandte Kunst, Berlin-Charlottenburg where he was a Professor from 1920. By 1929: interior design (tiles), with the architect Bruno Paul, for the National Porcelain Factory (also called the Berlin Porcelain Works). By 1929: designed over 100 bookbindings for the Deutsche Buchgemeinschaft. 1936: responsible for almost all the lettering of the Olympic Games buildings as well as the design of the certificates for the Olympic winners. 1937: lost his position at the Berlin Akademie, where he was on the faculty, when denounced, with others, in a student demonstration as one of the ‘destructive Jewish-Marxist elements’ (EB’s wife was Jewish). From 1945: taught at the Hochschule für bildende Kunst, Berlin-Wilmersdorf (1945-58: Professor; 1955-6: Director). 1953: awarded City of Berlin art prize. Died 2 September 1963 in Berlin.

Writings about

  • Frans Hermann Wills, ‘Graphik aus Berlin/Graphik für Berlin’, Graphik, 1953, pp. 638-49, esp. p. 648
  • Wer ist Wer?, 1962
    • Wolfgang Goetz, ‘Künstlerische Werbemittel bei besonderen politischen Anlässen’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., 1925, v. 2, pp. 63-9 H.K. Frenzel, ‘Prof. Ernst Böhm, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., 1929, v. 12, pp. 2-19 Eberhard Hölscher, ‘Porcelain and commercial art’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., 1929, v. 12, pp. 34-40
  • ‘Prof. Ernst Böhm’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Jan. 1933, pp. 48-9 (work and photo of EB)
  • E. Hölscher, ‘The lettering of the Reich Sports Ground’ (for the Olympic Games, 1936), Die zeitgemässe Schrift, Berlin/Leipzig: Verlag für Schriftkunde Heintze & Blanckertz., Oct. 1936, pp. 21-30
  • E. Hölscher, ‘The sufferings of the Berlin heraldic bear’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Feb. 1954, pp. 52-5
  • Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, Munich/Leipzig: K.G. Saur Verlag, 1990-., 1996.
    • work shown in Max Osborn, ‘Die neuen deutschen Briefmarken’ (new stamps), Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., 1925, v. 2, pp. 16-22 Kurt Biebrach, ‘Amtliche Graphik für den Empfang des Königs von Afghanistan’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., 1928, v. 4, pp. 63-7
  • H.K. Frenzel, ‘Preparatory training for advertising artists’ (interview with O.H.W. Hadank and Ernst Böhm), Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., July 1930, pp. 2-43 (including work of their students)
  • E. Hölscher, ‘The meaning of ex-libris’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Aug. 1936, pp. 48-53
  • E. Hölscher, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Jan. 1959, pp. 14-21 (Gg covers)