Object Timeline
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1928 |
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2016 |
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2025 |
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Poster, Philips
This is a Poster. It was designed by Louis Christiaan Kalff and made for (as the client) Philips. It is dated ca. 1928. Its medium is lithograph on paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
When Louis C. Kalff was hired by Philips in 1925, the company was one of the largest producers of light bulbs in the world. Kalff worked first as the company's general Art Director. During this time Kalff produced numerous designs for Philips, but this poster is the most iconic. It features a car driving over a dark bridge a night. The piercing bright headlights of the automobile and the glowing orbs of light that punctuate the shore illuminate the scene. The stylized arcs and angles reflect a nuanced influence of Art Deco. The use of a narrative allows Kalff puts a clever spin on the traditional sachplakat (object poster). He dispenses with a slogan and instead punctuates the scene with a detailed rendering of the product, a Philips light bulb, and the brand's name in bold type at the bottom. The contrast of the blue and orange set the brand name apart.
This object was
donated by
George R. Kravis II.
It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.
- Poster, Miniwatt/ Philips Radio
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of George R. Kravis II.
- 2018-22-23
- Drawing, The Electric Light, Study for Manufactures and Liberal Arts...
- charcoal and graphite on cream wove paper.
- Gift of J. Carroll Beckwith.
- 1915-2-2
- Print, 60 Watt Extra Life Bulbs
- offset lithograph on cardboard.
- Gift of Marion S. Rand.
- 2002-11-44
Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Poster, Nagoya Interiors: Next Wave International Design Competition
- offset lithograph on white wove paper.
- Gift of the International Design Network Foundation.
- 1995-107-6
- Poster, IBM / Every man with an idea has at least two or three followers.
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Various Donors.
- 1981-29-442
- Poster, Yamagiwa International Competition for Lighting Fixtures Exhibition
- photo-offset lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Sara and Marc Benda.
- 2009-20-17
Its dimensions are
H x W: 117.5 × 79.1 cm (46 1/4 × 31 1/8 in.) H x W (Mount): 123.5 × 84.8 cm (48 5/8 × 33 3/8 in.)
Cite this object as
Poster, Philips; Designed by Louis Christiaan Kalff (Dutch, 1897–1976); Client: Philips; lithograph on paper; H x W: 117.5 × 79.1 cm (46 1/4 × 31 1/8 in.) H x W (Mount): 123.5 × 84.8 cm (48 5/8 × 33 3/8 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2018-22-42
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.
