Description
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.
Background
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.