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INVENTORY OF THE PIET ZWART VIEWS OF MANUFACTURING AND ARCHITECTURE, circa 1928-1935
2002.R.47
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Title: Piet Zwart views of manufacturing and architecture
Date (inclusive): 1928-circa 1935
Collection Number: 2002.R.47
Creator:
Zwart, Piet, 1885-1977
Extent:
2.9 linear
ft.
(2 boxes)
Repository:
Getty Research Institute
Research Library
Special Collections and Visual Resources
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688
Abstract: Photographs taken by designer Piet Zwart to be used in his typographical work for various manufacturing companies in the Netherlands.
Also includes photographic prints of architectural exteriors and interiors, and prints that are more artistic in nature.
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Language: Collection material is in
Dutch
Open for use by qualified researchers.
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Library Rights and Reproductions
Piet Zwart views of manufacturing and architecture, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Accession no. 2002.R.47.
Received in 2002.
Processed by Laura Schroffel
Piet Zwart was born in 1885 in Zaandijk, Amsterdam. He was trained as an architect and worked for the architects Jan Wils
and H.P. Berlage. While working for Berlage and others Zwart also became adept in the field of interior design. In 1923 Zwart
began his typographical career creating advertisements that were published in Tijdschrift voor electrothechniek and Sterkstroom.
It was at this time that he produced his most famous work for the Nederlandsche Kabelfabriek, Delft. Zwart also did large
projects for the ITF, Internationale tentoonstelling op filmgebied, and the Dutch Postal Telegraph and Telephone Company (PTT),
including the design of a postage stamp. In 1930 Zwart was commissioned to design monthly calendar cards for the Bruynzeel
Wood Company, which manufactured pencils and doors. Eventually he designed all of Bruynzeel’s printed publications, advertising,
packaging, offices, exhibitions and various offices of representatives abroad. Zwart’s oeuvre is strongly associated with
the De Stijl movement.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection is comprised of 37 photographic prints most likely taken by Zwart for photograms to be used in his typographical
work for advertisements and catalogs. Twenty-five prints are 5x7 and 12 prints are other various sizes. The bulk of the photographs
depict manufacturing companies. The Bruynzeel Wood Company makes up the majority of the manufacturers prints. Ten prints of
Bruynzeel have associated pieces of tracing paper overlays, possibly used to compose Zwart’s typography projects. The photographs
are mostly details of machinery and views of the factory. Four prints are of the Nederlandsche Kabelfabriek, a cable factory.
Three prints are for the Wanning concrete sewer pipe manufacturing company. The collection contains a graphite drawing by
Zwart, possibly a layout for an advertisement for the Bruynzeel wood company.
Seven prints are of architectural exteriors and interiors, one building is the interior of the Dutch Pavilion, Antwerp, and
the rest of the unidentified buildings. Two prints are more artistic in nature.
Arrangement
Organized in five series:
Series I. Bruynzeel Wood Company
Series II. Nederlandsche Kabelfabriek
Series III. Wanning Concrete Sewer pipe Company
Series IV. Architectural interiors and exteriors
Series V. Miscellaneous photographs
Manufacturing industries—Netherlands
Advertising layout and typography—Netherlands—20th century
Architecture—Netherlands
De Stijl (Art movement)
Netherlands—Description and travel
Photographs, Original
Gelatin silver prints—Netherlands—20th century