Poster stamp for Die Brücke, Munich, c. 1911

Between 1911 and 1913 Emil Pirchan (1884–1957) placed his expertise as a graphic designer and architect at the disposal of the association Die Brücke [The Bridge], co-founded by the Nobel laureate for chemistry and Esperantist Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932). In the short period of its existence, this “Institute for the Organization of Intellectual Work” aimed to build a world registry to organize the cumulative knowledge of mankind. Like an analogous precursor to the internet, the data and information contained in this world registry was to be accessible at any time. In the medium term, the Brücke participants also wanted to put a world language and world currency into circulation. They further intended to create a uniform world format for printed material – a forerunner of today’s DIN formats. Pirchan furnished graphic solutions for this project as well as for theoretical publications. The association’s omnipresent signet – which was highly recognizable both in the versions with and without the rising sun under the eponymous bridge – was also designed by Pirchan.

IR, 2021