Piet Zwart Collection

An extensive collection of graphic design from the Dutch designer Piet Zwart (1885-1977), is currently available from the rare book firm, Ars Libri. Among the collection are famous projects for the Nederlandsche Kabelfabriek Delft (NKF) — including the 1929 English edition of the “Cable Book,” his masterpiece, and proofs of classic advertisements for the Netherlands Post Office (PTT).

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Piet Zwart’s work was multi-disciplinary and spanned the gamut of industrial design, typography, photography, and most notably graphic design. As an industrial designer, Zwart is best known for his design of the Bruynzeel modular kitchen in 1937, which is still available today. As a graphic designer, the work he produced for Nederlandse Kabelfabriek Delft (Dutch Cable Factory in Delft) and Dutch Postal Telegraph and Telephone Company (PTT) is arguably among the best known Dutch graphic design of the 20th century. His graphic design work clearly shows the influence of Constructivism and, though he was not a part of the De Stijl, his work reflects elements of this movement. Recurring themes are the use of repetitious patterns, lines, circles, primary colors, photomontage and explorations of experimental typography.