Jerzy Treutler
31 May 1931 - 11 Dec 2020
Jerzy Treutler was born on 31st of May 1931 in Beszyn, Poland. Over the course of his career he designed hundreds of posters, book covers, book designs and the iconic logo for the Polish fashion company ‘Moda Polska’. He received the title of Graphic Expert from the Polish Ministry of Culture in 1977. He was a key figure from the Polish School of Posters and his works are now extremely collectible and kept in museums around the world.
“The Polish School of posters can be best described as being bold and colourful with painterly orientation and one I embraced as a graphic artist with all my heart it was exciting and creative time for me”
“The Polish poster stood out (...) because it was a mental shortcut, a rebus, it was based on a gesture, on painting, on artistic freedom. Tomaszewski, Świerzy, Starowieyski, Młodożeniec - they all came out of painting and only then adapted their workshop to the needs of applied graphics.”
About Jerzy Treutler
Jerzy Treutler was born on 31st of May 1931 in Beszyn, Poland. From the beginning he had a passion for drawing but the war heavily disrupted his childhood; Treutler had to move schools six times and the family were forced out of their home which was confiscated by the Communist State.
After Treutler finally gained his school diploma, he went on to study graphics at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts under Professor Tadeusz Kulisiewicz. He graduated in 1955 alongside fellow Polish poster legend Hubert Hilscher, who he remained great friends with.
Over the course of his 50 year career Treutler designed hundreds of film, opera, social and circus posters as well as satirical illustrations, book covers, catalogues and the iconic swallow logo for the celebrated Polish fashion house ‘Moda Polska’. He worked as an art director and chief graphic designer in various publishing houses and as a contemporary art expert in the Ministry of Culture and Art.
Yet posters remained Treutler's passion. His designs were dynamic, bold and colourful. They were also full of heart and meaning; thoughtful interpretations of a topic, full of associations and metaphors.
In 1977 Treutler received the title of Graphic Expert from the Polish Ministry of Culture. His works have won many awards and been exhibited around the world. Jerzy Treutler was a major figure within the Polish School of Posters - the term used to describe the ground-breaking graphic art movement which emerged from dark years of Communist rule (1950s-1980s).
Some more artists you might like…
