The Pioneers of Croatian Posters

To celebrate 150 years of existence, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts has opened an exhibition “The Pioneers of Croatian Posters”. The exhibition features works by the most eminent Croatian artists who contributed to the development of graphic design in Croatia, which has its roots in the late 19th century.

Until the end of May, the Cabinet of Graphics at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts will feature an exhibition “The Pioneers of Croatian Poster”, which has been organized to celebrate 150 years of the institution’s existence.

The exhibition features works by eminent Croatian painters who are associated with the development of graphic design in Croatia, such as Bela Chikos Sessija, Menci Clement Crnčić, Tomislav Krizman and Ljubo Babić. In the late 19th century, under the influence of changes in European cultural circles, the concept of graphic design began to develop when new communicational and shaping principles were introduced in the field of literature, theatre and fine art. Influenced by those changes, all four of the aforementioned artists, schooled at art academies in Vienna and Munich, played their part in affirming graphic design as an independent form of artistic expression.

When Bela Chikos Sessija returned from schooling, he involved himself with producing vignettes and illustrations, as well as book equipping. In 1896, he created a poster for the first art revue of the Moderna. Along with Menci Clement Crnčić, the pioneer of modern graphic design in Croatia, he opened the first private painting school in Zagreb in 1903, which became the Higher School of Arts and Crafts in 1907 and, finally, the Art Academy in 1921. Among the most notable students at the school were Tomislav Krizman and Ljubo Babić, who also greatly contributed to the development of graphic design in Croatia with their posters, catalogues, illustrations, books and magazines.