The Complete Genealogy of Graphic Design
1985
Artist
Paula Scher
Client
Print Magazine
DIMENSIONS
32 x 24 in. (81.3 x 61 cm)
OBJECT NUMBER
PH.2025.471
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United States
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Paula Scher
KEYWORDS
Design, Entertainment, Literary

In her iconic cover for Print magazine (Volume 39, No. 6, November–December 1985), also published as a poster, Paula Scher presents a fantasy lineage of graphic-design mavens, among them such unlikely figures as Cleopatra, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Calvin Coolidge. As she satirizes the self-importance of the graphic-design world, she lures the viewer into her imaginary scheme by the sheer brilliance of her composition. Print magazine, based in New York, was one of the many clients of Koppel & Scher, a company founded by Scher and Terry Koppel in 1984. During its six years in operation, the business created identities, packaging, book jackets, and advertising.

For inquiries about image licensing, please contact collections@posterhouse.org.

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