Herbert Matter

Herbert Matter (1907–1984) is a leading figure in 20th-century graphic design. Born in Switzerland and educated in Geneva and Paris, he lived in the United States from 1936, where he had a distinguished career as a designer, photographer, and educator. He created iconic posters, developed editorial designs for major magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and collaborated with great artists of his time, including Le Corbusier, Alberto Giacometti, and Alexander Calder.

Herbert Matter: Visual Sensation is heavily illustrated with some 500 mostly colour images of his works in all genres, sketches, and references—many of which have never been published before, and others featured in colour for the first time. The book, which emerged from an extensive research project at the École cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL), reveals the expanse of Matter’s creativity that goes far beyond his famous poster designs, highlighting in particular his photographic and cinematic work as well as his significance as an educator. It also offers a nuanced discourse on Matter’s visual art by connecting with the cultural spheres of Switzerland, France, and America that shaped his personality.