Bunter Ball Im Zoo
c. 1932
Artist
Walter Hofmann
DIMENSIONS
35 1/4 x 23 3/4 in. (89.5 x 60.3 cm)
OBJECT NUMBER
PH.5694
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Animals, Ape, Austria, Chimpanzee, Circus, Concert, Entertainment, Instrument, Mammal, Vienna, Zoo
CREDIT LINE
Poster House Permanent Collection
KEYWORDS
Animals, Ape, Austria, Chimpanzee, Circus, Concert, Entertainment, Instrument, Mammal, Vienna, Zoo

Walter Hofmann was an Austrian graphic designer based in Vienna, where he established his first studio in 1929. After the war, he became a successful poster designer, producing advertisements for Austrian newspapers, travel in Austria, and many popular brands, including Nivea face cream. In this poster, announcing a ball at the zoo, Hofmann makes a visual play on the idea, showing a monkey standing on a colorful ball as he plays the saxophone. As late as 1934, the Austrian capital was a socialist stronghold known as “Red Vienna”; at least fifty-five percent of its population of two million inhabitants was working-class. In response to the demands of both proletarians and progressives in the city, the Social Democratic Workers Party of Austria (SDAP) introduced a huge number of institutions and programs to empower the working class; the women’s employment assistance program celebrated at the ball was one of them.

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