Description:
“Sherlock Holmes needed his Watson. Pierre Curie needed his Marie. One of the most famous couples in the history of tourism is undoubtedly the Engadine St. Moritz holiday resort and the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. The historic Kulm Hotel dates from the time that Engadine St. Moritz became the world’s first winter holiday resort. The hotel has played a central part in the resort’s success story that has lasted 160 years so far; from the original pioneering spirit of the 19th century to the innovations of the present” - so says the current homepage of the luxury hotel Kulm St. Moritz. The painter and designer Philipp Arlen left behind only a small oeuvre of posters. This one is characterised by a detailed, realistic painting style that betrays the illustrator. Fine drawings of people, which can always be read as social character studies, define the figures on his posters. This rare original poster by Arlen advertises the Tango Tea at the Kulm Hotel in the 1920s and reflects his soft, narrative and detailed style of design. Rarity.

Philipp Arlen first completed an apprenticeship as a lithographer in St. Gallen, then studied art in Leipzig and from 1897 to 1900 at a private art school in Munich. Longer stays in Paris, England and Italy rounded off his years of training. From 1917 to 1935 Arlen worked as a commercial artist and illustrator in St. Gallen and Zurich. In 1936 he settled in the Locarno region and devoted himself to his free art. He gained recognition and fame as an illustrator, among other things as the designer of the Bündner Schulbuch. In 1941 he designed the card for the Swiss Jubilee celebrations. After retiring to Ticino, Arlen devoted himself mainly to free art. He created landscapes and portraits in oil.

Philipp Arlen left behind only a small oeuvre of posters. This is characterised by a detailed, realistic style of painting that betrays the illustrator. Fine drawings of people, which can always be read as social character studies, define the figures on his posters.