Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer
This exhibition started on September 10, 2021 and is on display until April 10, 2022.
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View and print exhibition labels.
- Book, Brazil Builds: Architecture New and Old 1652-1942
- letterpress halftone.
- The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Publications Archive. The Museum of....
- 95.2019.19
- Print, Harper's Bazaar, January 1940
- letterpress halftone.
- Gift of Grace Schulman.
- 1997-134-1-8
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Print, "Journey Into Fear"
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-1294
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Three Tulips
- brush and gouache.
- Gift of Grace Schulman.
- 1997-134-14
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
![A lithograph on lined paper poster for the United Committee of South-Slavic Americans in 1944. In the center is a black and white photograph of Josip Broz, also known as Tito, superimposed onto a ground of two vertical black arrows, one pointing up, and one pointing down, alongside a horizontal red arrow across the lower section, pointing to the left, to create an endless circle. Capitalised text in black, white and red above the photograph reads: [1941-/1944/ YUGOSLAV PEOPLE LED BY TITO]. While below the photograph of Tito, superimposed on the red arrow, white capitalised text reads [FIGHTING VANGUARD OF / DEMOCRATIC EUROPE]; and below that capitallised red and black text reads [DEATH TO FASCISM! / LIBERTY TO THE PEOPLE!] The poster is signed [E. McKnight Kauffer] in white ink in the center right, underneath the red arrow. It is also inscribed in capital letters: [THE UNITED COMMITTEE OF SOUTH-SLAVIC AMERICANS / 1010 PARK AVENUE . NEW YORK 28, N. Y] in black ink in the lower right; and [Litho’d in U. S. A] in black ink in the lower left.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/64312_d7898bad2eb333dd_n.jpg "Poster, Yugoslav People Led by Tito")
- Poster, Yugoslav People Led by Tito
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-114
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
![A brush and gouache on board design for the United Nations in both English and French from 1946. The image is comprised of the capital letters U (upper left), N (lower right) and the number 1 (center) all overlapping in gradiating grey, dark grey at the top of the U and bottom of the N fading to light grey in the center, on a black rectangular background. Where the three figures overlap the space is depicted in black with a globe in the center and blue fluffy clouds above. At the top white capitalised text reads [THE], followed by larger yellow capitalised text which reads [UNITED NATIONS], while at the bottom pale blue capitalised text reads [NATIONS UNIES], the French translation of United Nations. In the bottom right corner the word [Rough] is written in small black ink script, beneath is stamped in black ink, in capitals letters, [DESIGN BY / E. McKNIGHT KAUFFER], and below that [August 6 1946] is written in small black ink script.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/346348_46ae7dcd59d5ebea_n.jpg "Drawing, Design for The United Nations")
- Drawing, Design for The United Nations
- brush and gouache.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-159
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
![Graphic design for a wide horizontal poster, in crisp white, red, deep blue, and black. The design is painted slightly crooked on a sheet of creamy white paper with yellowed tape marks along the top edge and a torn-off bottom left corner. In the photograph, the design is level and the paper's edges are crooked. Within the design at center left, a large white arrow with a red cross in it points down to the right toward [GIVE] in large white italicized letters. The smaller text above reads [KEEP YOUR - RED CROSS AT HIS SIDE] in white, blue, and red letters. [YOUR -] is blue, written within the white arrow. [RED CROSS] is deep red against a black background. [KEEP YOUR -] are italicized, another dynamic angle in the simple design. The background is divided between black and blue, with the dividing line crossing from the bottom left corner up to the upper right edge. The edge is sketchy, with black shading into blue. The design is signed [E. McKnight Kauffer] in small white letters at bottom right.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/55874_9206b62f05dac6b9_n.jpg "Drawing, Design for Give")
- Drawing, Design for Give
- brush and gouache with graphite.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-599
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Textile, Yellow Driftwood
- screen-printed cotton and mohair.
- Lent by Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Edgar J.....
- 88.2019.1
- This object was made by Jud Williams, Inc..
![A rectangular section of a silk textile with a pale mint green background, printed with ferns, calla lillies, and grasses in turquoise and blue-grey, which are displayed in repeating vertical bands down the piece. On the right the words [Marion V Dorn LEAVES OF GRASS] are printed diagonally in blue grey, with [LEAVES OF GRASS] in capital letters, these words are repeated three times.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/335248_1c2d3d63b3759e71_n.jpg "Textile, Leaves of Grass, 1946")
- Textile, Leaves of Grass, 1946
- silk.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2018-17-1
- This object was made by Silkar Studios Inc..
- Reproduction, Marion Dorn Surrounded by Her Textile Designs
- photograph.
- Horst P. Horst / Getty Images.
- s-e-3385
- Poster, A Subway Poster Pulls
- screenprint.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-119
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Poster, Fashions in Flight
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-132
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Illustration for Shakespeare in Harlem
- stylus on scratchboard.
- Gift of Grace Schulman.
- 1997-134-1-23
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for Book Cover, "Intruder in the Dust"
- brush and gouache, graphit,e and chalk.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-1210
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for Book Cover, "Intruder in the Dust"
- brush and gouache, graphite, and chalk.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-1211
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Painting, Montana, from the United States series
- gouache.
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Gift of Container Corporation of America.
- 89.2019.2
![An offset lithograph on white woven paper poster encouraging travel to New York with American Airlines. The poster is dominated by thwo stylised white skyscrapers in the foreground and one tiered white skyscraper behind them which are set against a bright blue sky with three puffy white clouds. The American flag hangs from the second row of windows on the building's facade in the lower center. Blue and white capitalised italicised text in the upper center says [AMERICAN/ AIRLINES], followed by small blue capitalised italicised text in the lower left which says [TO NEW YORK]. In the lower left is the American Airlines logo in black, two capital letter As with a bird of prey between them with its wings stretched upwards. The poster is signed in blue ink [E. McKnight Kauffer] in the lower right, and is inscribed in capitalised black text [LITHOGRAPHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA] in the lower left.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/90750_7c056c47435fe58c_n.jpg "Poster, American Airlines to New York")
- Poster, American Airlines to New York
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-139
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
![An offset lithogaph on paper poster encouraging travel to California with American Airlines. A black and white photograph of a female figure in a swimming costume is montaged into an illustrated beach scene with golden sand, piled infront of her pointed toes, and a rectangular strip of blue ocean with white waves stretching behind her legs to the right. The figure appears to toss a large red, orange and yellow beach ball into the air in the center right. Blue and black capitalised, italicised text in the upper center says [AMERICAN/ AIRLINES], followed by orange capitalised, italicised text, printed at a diagonal towards the right corner, in the center, which says [TO CALIFORNIA]. The American Airlines logo in orange and brown follows this text and is represented by two capital letter As with a bird of prety between them with its wings stretched upwards. The poster is signed in blue ink [E. McKnight Kauffer] in the lower right under the waves.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/65113_3fa58db5258f93ac_n.jpg "Poster, American Airlines to California, 1948")
- Poster, American Airlines to California, 1948
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-131
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
![An offset lithograph on paper poster encouraging travel to Paris with American Airlines. A photoillustration of a winged figure in long following robes leans towards the left and is colored in yellow which fades to turquoise from left to right. This figure represents the iconic Winged Victory of Samothrace from the Louvre Collection and takes up three quarters of the poster from the lower center. Capitalised italicised text in black and turquoise in the upper center printed on a right facing diagonal towards the upper right corner states [AMERICAN AIRLINES], followed by a black diagonal line stretching from the left edge of the first 'A' in [AMERICAN] to the lower right edge of the paper. Underneath this the word [PARIS] is printed in the center right in capital letters alternating between black and turquoise wih the letter 'R' in red. In the lower right corner beneath the figure's robe is the American Airlines logo in light blue, represented by two capital letter As with a bird of prey in between with its wings stretched upwards. Beneath this is the designer's signature [E. McKnight Kauffer] in light blue ink. The poster is inscribed in black capitalised letters [LITHO IN U. S. A.] in the lower left.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/324643_e244fd6dd50b0c72_n.jpg "Poster, American Airlines to Paris")
- Poster, American Airlines to Paris
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-141
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
![An offset lithograph on paper poster encouraging travel to Europe with American Airlines. A stylised eagle dominates the poster, composed of two flat geometric triangular planes with circular edges for their top right corners, one pale blue forms the wings, the other navy forms the body, with five small alternating white and blue stars diagonally along the eagle's back and three pale blue dashes suggesting feathers at the top of the eagle's head. The eagle is shown in profile facing right and has a navy beak protruding to the right, and an eye formed from a pale blue semi-circlular eyelid and a white semi-circular eye. The outline of a right facing arrow is drawn in white from the bottom edge of the wing onto the eagle's body, and a pulsing white line can be found on the bird's body under the stars. Capitalised text in red and white printed on a right facing diagonal from the top left corner says [AMERICAN AIRLINES], followed by blue, capitalised italicised text underneath the bird which says [TO / EUROPE]. The American Airlines logo is superimposed on a blue stripe at the bottom center, formed from two red capital letter As with the white outline of a bird of prey between them with its wings stretched upwards, surrounded by five small white stars. The poster is signed in white and blue ink [E. McKnight Kauffer] in the lower left, in the corner of the eagle's tail and along its bottom edge.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/65119_0389eb3402775124_n.jpg "Poster, American Airlines to Europe, 1948")
- Poster, American Airlines to Europe, 1948
- lithograph.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-138
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
