Warja Honegger-Lavater
Encyclopedia
Warja Honegger-Lavater was born in Winterthur
, Switzerland
. She was a Swiss
artist and illustrator
noted primarily for working in the artist's books genre
by creating accordion fold books that re-tell classic fairy tales with symbols rather than words (or even pictures).
Honegger-Lavater spent the first nine years of her life in Moscow
and Athens
. In 1922, her mother (the author Mary Lavater-Sloman) and father Emil Lavater (an engineer) settled the family back in Wintherthur. After attending High School
, Honegger-Lavater studied graphic arts in Zurich
from 1931 to 1935 at the Fachklasse für Grafik an der Kunstgewerbeschule
Grafik (School of Applied Arts). It was here, in 1932, she began studying under Ernst Keller in a class of 28 of which 7 were women. Later in life, Lavater recalled this training:
Studying in Stockholm
, Basel
, and Paris
, she opened her own studio for applied design in Zurich in 1937 with Gottfried Honegger
, her future husband. It was here that Honegger-Lavater embarked on her first profession as a designer of symbols, logos, and trademarks. Among her initial creations were the three keys logo
of the Schweizerischen Bankverein (Swiss Bank Corporation
) and the logo for the Swiss National Exhibition of 1939.
After marrying Honegger in 1940, she bore two daughters: Bettina (1943) and Cornelia (1944).
From 1944 to 1958 she worked extensively with the young person's magazine Jeunesse designing the covers, supplying illustrations, and being responsible for typography.
Moving to New York
in 1958, she began designing scientific illustrations for the publisher Visuals. It was during this early period in New York that Honegger-Lavater became influenced by American street advertising and began to utilize pictograms as graphic representations of linguistic elements in her work. In 1962, the New York
Museum of Modern Art
published her William Tell
as a single sheet lithograph, accordion folded in the "Leporello" style, with a legend listing the meanings of the various symbols (e.g., a single blue dot represents William Tell). The story proceeds chronologically as the book unfolds, and is told entirely by using the symbols without words. She produced a growing number of similar works throughout the rest of her career.
By 1995 she was creating videos of colors and symbols moving across a screen, set to music.
At the time of her death she was retired and residing outside of Zurich. She is interred at the Fluntern Cemetery
in Zürich.
Her artistic estate is held by the Zürich Central Library
.
Honegger-Lavater was a direct descendant of the Swiss poet and physiognomist Johann Kaspar Lavater
.
book Twentysix Gasoline Stations
which was published in 1963. Ruscha's book has been cited by some as the first modern artist's book. This claim can now be contested noting that Lavater's work, as well as that of another Swiss-German artist, Dieter Roth
, preceded Ruscha.
Starting in 1963, the Paris based publisher Adrien Maeght began publication of a series of her folding books broadly entitled Imageries. These books consist of classic fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm
, Charles Perrault
, and Hans Christian Andersen
. These were also done as accordion folded books with stories told using symbols rather than written language.
have produced a pedagogical guide for teaching literacy and creativity to young children using Lavater's version of the classic fairy tale, Snow White
(Schneewittchen).
Winterthur
Winterthur is a city in the canton of Zurich in northern Switzerland. It has the country's sixth largest population with an estimate of more than 100,000 people. In the local dialect and by its inhabitants, it is usually abbreviated to Winti...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. She was a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
artist and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
noted primarily for working in the artist's books genre
Artists' Books
Artists' books are works of art realized in the form of a book. They are often published in small editions, though sometimes they are produced as one-of-a-kind objects referred to as "uniques"....
by creating accordion fold books that re-tell classic fairy tales with symbols rather than words (or even pictures).
Personal life
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. In 1922, her mother (the author Mary Lavater-Sloman) and father Emil Lavater (an engineer) settled the family back in Wintherthur. After attending High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Honegger-Lavater studied graphic arts in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
from 1931 to 1935 at the Fachklasse für Grafik an der Kunstgewerbeschule
Kunstgewerbeschule
A Kunstgewerbeschule was the old name for an advanced school of applied arts in German-speaking countries. The first such schools were opened in Kassel in 1867 and Berlin and Munich in 1868 with other German towns following. They are now merged into universities....
Grafik (School of Applied Arts). It was here, in 1932, she began studying under Ernst Keller in a class of 28 of which 7 were women. Later in life, Lavater recalled this training:
What we were learning was design, and so we began with the most important thing, drawing. Where do you put a sign in a rectangle? What is the standard solution to this exercise? Should the strongest element be the sign or the drawing? How can both be distinguished at a distance, yet integrated in a composition?
Studying in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, and 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...
, she opened her own studio for applied design in Zurich in 1937 with Gottfried Honegger
Gottfried Honegger
Gottfried Honegger is a Swiss artist and graphic designer. He was married to the Swiss illustrator Warja Lavater. He studied shop-window display at the Zurich Kunstgewerbeschule and taught there from 1948...
, her future husband. It was here that Honegger-Lavater embarked on her first profession as a designer of symbols, logos, and trademarks. Among her initial creations were the three keys logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of the Schweizerischen Bankverein (Swiss Bank Corporation
Swiss Bank Corporation
Swiss Bank Corporation was a large integrated financial services company located in Switzerland...
) and the logo for the Swiss National Exhibition of 1939.
After marrying Honegger in 1940, she bore two daughters: Bettina (1943) and Cornelia (1944).
From 1944 to 1958 she worked extensively with the young person's magazine Jeunesse designing the covers, supplying illustrations, and being responsible for typography.
Moving to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1958, she began designing scientific illustrations for the publisher Visuals. It was during this early period in New York that Honegger-Lavater became influenced by American street advertising and began to utilize pictograms as graphic representations of linguistic elements in her work. In 1962, the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
published her William Tell
William Tell
William Tell is a folk hero of Switzerland. His legend is recorded in a late 15th century Swiss chronicle....
as a single sheet lithograph, accordion folded in the "Leporello" style, with a legend listing the meanings of the various symbols (e.g., a single blue dot represents William Tell). The story proceeds chronologically as the book unfolds, and is told entirely by using the symbols without words. She produced a growing number of similar works throughout the rest of her career.
By 1995 she was creating videos of colors and symbols moving across a screen, set to music.
At the time of her death she was retired and residing outside of Zurich. She is interred at the Fluntern Cemetery
Fluntern Cemetery
Also known as Friedhof Fluntern, Fluntern Cemetery is located in the Zürichberg district of Zürich. It contains the graves of James Joyce, Therese Giehse, Elias Canetti, and Warja Lavater....
in Zürich.
Her artistic estate is held by the Zürich Central Library
Zentralbibliothek Zürich
Zentralbibliothek Zürich is the main library of both the city and the University of Zürich, housed in the Predigerkloster, the former Black Friars' abbey, in the old town's Rathaus quarter....
.
Honegger-Lavater was a direct descendant of the Swiss poet and physiognomist Johann Kaspar Lavater
Johann Kaspar Lavater
Johann Kaspar Lavater was a Swiss poet and physiognomist.-Early life:Lavater was born at Zürich, and educated at the Gymnasium there, where J. J. Bodmer and J. J...
.
Early work in artists' books
Lavater's 1962 publication of William Tell predates Edward Ruscha'sEdward Ruscha
Edward Joseph Ruscha IV is an American artist associated with the Pop art movement. He has worked in the media of painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, and film. Ruscha lives and works in Culver City, California...
book Twentysix Gasoline Stations
Twentysix Gasoline Stations
Twentysix Gasoline Stations is the first artist's book by the American pop artist Ed Ruscha. Published in April 1963 on his own imprint National Excelsior Press, it is often considered to be the first modern Artist's book, and has become famous as a precursor and a major influence on the emerging...
which was published in 1963. Ruscha's book has been cited by some as the first modern artist's book. This claim can now be contested noting that Lavater's work, as well as that of another Swiss-German artist, Dieter Roth
Dieter Roth
Dieter Roth was an Icelandic artist of Swiss German origin best known for his artist's books and for his sculptures and pictures made with rotting food stuffs. He was also known as Dieter Rot and Diter Rot....
, preceded Ruscha.
Starting in 1963, the Paris based publisher Adrien Maeght began publication of a series of her folding books broadly entitled Imageries. These books consist of classic fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
, Charles Perrault
Charles Perrault
Charles Perrault was a French author who laid the foundations for a new literary genre, the fairy tale, with his works derived from pre-existing folk tales. The best known include Le Petit Chaperon rouge , Cendrillon , Le Chat Botté and La Barbe bleue...
, and Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
. These were also done as accordion folded books with stories told using symbols rather than written language.
Educational influence
Lavater's work has been used by educators in the areas of artistic development and literacy. The National Library of France has encouraged children to explore artistic expression using the techniques created by Lavater. Faculty at the University of ErfurtUniversity of Erfurt
The University of Erfurt is a public university located in Erfurt, Germany. Originally founded in 1379, the university was closed in 1816 for the next 177 years...
have produced a pedagogical guide for teaching literacy and creativity to young children using Lavater's version of the classic fairy tale, Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
(Schneewittchen).
Prints
- 2300 years of medical costume : distinctive garb of the medical and related professions from the time of Hippocrates to the Napoleonic era. North Chicago, Ill. : Abbott Laboratories, 1962 (OCLC )
- Chacun sa chimère : sept eaux-fortes; Portfolio with 5 signed dry point etchings combined with color lithography. Paris : A. Maeght, 1984. (OCLC )
Books
| Authored, illustrated, contributed, and edited |
|---|
|
Videos
- Les Imageries, 6 digital animation films, ParisParisParis 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...
: IRCAMIRCAMIRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
, 1995
-
-
- Design : Warja Lavater based on the work of Charles Perrault
- Graphics Production : Mac Guff Ligne
- Composer : Pierre Charvet
-
Music
- Liedli für Mutter und Kind für eine Singstimme und Klavier (co-composed with Gustav Kugler), Zollikon-Zürich :; Sämann-Verlag, 1944 (OCLC )
Awards
- Imagina 1995 (held by Institut National de l'AudiovisuelInstitut national de l'audiovisuelThe Institut national de l'audiovisuel , is a repository of all French radio and television audiovisual archives. Additionally it provides customers with a free and immediate access to archives of countries such as Afghanistan and Cambodia...
) awards for Les Imageries (video 1995)- Pixel-INA award in the Art category
- European award of Media Invest Club
- "meilleure bande son" (best sound track)
- Nominee. Hans Christian Andersen Medal (Illustration) 1992
Exhibitions
| Years and locales where artist exhibited |
|---|
|
Sources
- Biography (French Language)
- Bibliography, exhibitions, and Biography (German Language) via SIKART
- Biography (German Language) via Galerie Brigitte Weiss
- Beckett, Sandra L. "Artists' books for a cross-audience - Warja Lavater" IN Studies in children's literature, 1500-2000, Dublin ; Portland, OR : Four Courts, 2004, pp. 163–166 (OCLC )
- Carmin, Jim. "Warja Honegger-Lavater exhibition (Multnomah County Library)" IN BOOK_ARTS@LISTERV.SYR.EDU, Portland, OR, May 12, 2001
- Kushner, Robert. "Review of Exhibitions - Warja Lavater at the Swiss Institute" IN Art in America vol. 85, no. 4 (April 1997), p. 122
- Lavater, Warja. "Perception: When Signs Start to Communicate" IN The Faces of physiognomy : interdisciplinary approaches to Johann Caspar Lavater. Edited by Ellis Shookman. Columbia, SC : Camden House, 1993. pp. 182–187. (OCLC )
- Mallarte-Feldman, Claire. "Folk Materials, Re-Visions, and Narrative Images: The Intertextual Games They Play" IN Children's Literature Association Quarterly Volume 28, Number 4, Winter 2003. p. 215. E-ISSN: 1553-1201 Print ISSN: 0885-0429
- Moholy, Lucia. "Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions - Switzerland" IN Burlington Magazine vol. 105, no. 719 (February 1963), p. 85
- Swiss Institute for Art Research (search for Artist: Lavater)
- IRCAM (search for single term: Lavater)
- Plath, Monika and Richter, Karen. Die Bildwelten der Warja Lavater "Schneewittchen" : Modelle und Materialien für den Literaturunterricht. Baltmannsweiler : Schneider-Verl. Hohengehren, 2006. (OCLC )
External links
- OCLC WorldCat (Honegger-Lavater as author search)
- OCLC WorldCat Identities
- Lithographic works at Maeght Editions (Paris)
- Snow White (1998)
- Création graphique à la manière de Warja Lavater (Graphic creation in the style of Warja Lavater)
- Broward County Digital Collections: Blanche Neige, Cendrillon, Guillame Tell, Kaguyahima
- Obituary (German Language) from Zürcher Tagesanzeiger, May 5, 2007