Emil Pirchan

Museum Folkwang is hosting a major solo exhibition devoted to the universal artist Emil Pirchan (1884–1957), the first such Pirchan exhibition in the world. One of the pioneers of the Lebensreform movements of the early twentieth century, Pirchan worked as an architect, stage designer and author. He made his name primarily as a graphic artist and designer. His posters, logos, bookplates, brochures and technical illustrations were seminal, influencing many of his contemporaries. The exhibition displays over 350 pieces taken from Pirchan’s multifaceted body of work, which is structured around the fields in which he worked, presented in eight thematically organised rooms. Pirchan had particular success with his poster designs and works for the stage. The exhibition places a special focus on these two Areas.