Kunsthaus Maskenfest | 1929

Kunsthaus Maskenfest – Baur au Lac, 1929, by Otto Baumberger

This bold 1929 poster by Otto Baumberger advertises the Kunsthaus Zürich’s annual masquerade festival at the Baur au Lac hotel. The dynamic composition features five large, stylized carnival masks arranged in an overlapping pattern. The faces, painted in red, blue, black, and white, display exaggerated expressions—some laughing, some grinning mischievously. The shading technique gives the masks a sense of depth, while the angular geometric forms add a modernist energy. The typography at the bottom, in bold black and red, is integrated into the design, reinforcing the lively and theatrical nature of the event.

The Kunsthaus Maskenfest was a significant social and artistic occasion in Zürich, drawing artists, intellectuals, and the city’s elite. By the late 1920s, such events had become highly anticipated celebrations, reflecting the influence of European avant-garde movements like Expressionism and the Bauhaus. The Baur au Lac, one of Zürich’s most prestigious hotels, provided a luxurious setting for this spectacle of costume, music, and performance.

Otto Baumberger (1889–1961) was a Swiss graphic designer and painter, widely regarded as a key figure in the development of Swiss poster art. Trained as a painter, he transitioned into graphic design, producing over 200 posters throughout his career.