Walter HOFMANN (Atelier Hofmann)
(1906 – 1975)
Walter Hofmann (1906-1975) was an Austrian graphic designer who lived in Vienna all his life. From 1926 onwards, Hofmann attended the College of Applied Arts, where he first studied painting, but later concentrated more on poster design, illustration and lithography. In 1929, he opened his own studio in his parents' house and received his first commission from the Kleider-Hahn fashion shop. After the Second World War, he developed an extremely successful business in the field of advertising posters and received numerous awards at home and abroad. He also worked as a professor at the University of Applied Arts.
From 1950 to 1970, Hofmann was one of the most productive poster artists in Austria. His posters dominated the street scene and his studio, "Atelier Hofmann", employed up to 30 people. He created posters for Pez, Postfuchs, Astralux (bear), Nivea, Bensdorp, Frucade, the Lower Austrian Tourist and Wine Association, the Farmers' Union and the Volksbank. In 1952 he was awarded the Austrian State Prize for his work with advertising posters.
