Aesthetic and Artistic Purchasing Incentives in Late Imperial Germany and During the First World War: Advertizing Posters 1890-1918

Abstract

The great speed of industrial development led to a never before seen rise in the production of goods during the second half of the nineteenth century. By the turn of the century a massive and thereby profitable sale of goods was no longer an effortless achievement. The appeal to consumers, however, was approached with a much higher aesthetic standard and with great craftsmanship compared to today’s tactics. Well-known graphic designers and artists created advertising posters that have a timeless appeal. The convergence of advertising and art through the medium of the poster paired with social upheaval also produced a particular image of the woman.