Edward McKnight Kauffer
Encyclopedia
Edward McKnight Kauffer was an influential American-born artist noted for his avant garde graphic design
and poster art, especially in England
.
Kauffer was born in Great Falls
, Montana
. By 1910, he had moved to San Francisco working as a bookseller, studying art at the Mark Hopkins Art Institute from 1910 to 1912. At around this time, Professor Joseph McKnight of the University of Utah
became aware of Kauffer and his work. McKnight chose to sponsor Kauffer and paid to send him to Paris
for further study. In gratitude, Kauffer took his sponsor's name as a middle name.
Kauffer stopped in Chicago
for six months in 1912-1913 and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago
. While there he witnessed the Armory Show
, one of the first major exhibitions to introduce the styles of post-modernism to American audiences. This likely had a major impact on Kauffer, who would work in many of the same styles throughout his career.
He arrived in Paris in 1913 and studied at the Académie Moderne until 1914. He moved to London
upon the start of the World War
, and remained there for most of his career. He was briefly associated with Robert Bevan
's Cumberland Market Group
.
Kauffer may be best known for the 140 posters that he produced for London Underground
, and later London Transport
. The posters span many styles: many show abstract
influences, including futurism
, cubism
, and vorticism
; others evoke impressionist influences such as Japanese woodcut
s.
He created posters for other British clients, and also illustrated books and book covers. Later he also became interested in textile
s, interior design
and theatrical design.
He returned to New York City
in 1940 at the beginning of the next World War
and tried to find work in advertising. He struggled in the more competitive atmosphere until he was approached to do a series of posters for American Airlines
in 1947. It remained his primary client until his death in 1954.
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
and poster art, especially in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Kauffer was born in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. By 1910, he had moved to San Francisco working as a bookseller, studying art at the Mark Hopkins Art Institute from 1910 to 1912. At around this time, Professor Joseph McKnight of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
became aware of Kauffer and his work. McKnight chose to sponsor Kauffer and paid to send him to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for further study. In gratitude, Kauffer took his sponsor's name as a middle name.
Kauffer stopped in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
for six months in 1912-1913 and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
. While there he witnessed the Armory Show
Armory Show
Many exhibitions have been held in the vast spaces of U.S. National Guard armories, but the Armory Show refers to the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art that was organized by the Association of American Painters and Sculptors...
, one of the first major exhibitions to introduce the styles of post-modernism to American audiences. This likely had a major impact on Kauffer, who would work in many of the same styles throughout his career.
He arrived in Paris in 1913 and studied at the Académie Moderne until 1914. He moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
upon the start of the World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and remained there for most of his career. He was briefly associated with Robert Bevan
Robert Bevan
Robert Polhill Bevan was an English painter, draughtsman and lithographer. He was a founding member of the Camden Town Group, the London Group, and the Cumberland Market Group.-Early life:...
's Cumberland Market Group
Cumberland Market Group
The Cumberland Market Group was a short-lived artistic grouping in early twentieth century London. The group met in the studio of Robert Bevan in Cumberland Market, the old hay and straw market off Albany Street, and held one exhibition.-History:...
.
Kauffer may be best known for the 140 posters that he produced for London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, and later London Transport
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
. The posters span many styles: many show abstract
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
influences, including futurism
Futurism
Futurism was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century.Futurism or futurist may refer to:* Afrofuturism, an African-American and African diaspora subculture* Cubo-Futurism* Ego-Futurism...
, cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
, and vorticism
Vorticism
Vorticism, an offshoot of Cubism, was a short-lived modernist movement in British art and poetry of the early 20th century. It was based in London but international in make-up and ambition.-Origins:...
; others evoke impressionist influences such as Japanese woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
s.
He created posters for other British clients, and also illustrated books and book covers. Later he also became interested in textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
s, interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
and theatrical design.
He returned to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1940 at the beginning of the next World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and tried to find work in advertising. He struggled in the more competitive atmosphere until he was approached to do a series of posters for American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
in 1947. It remained his primary client until his death in 1954.