Josef Fenneker

An allotment of film posters that Fenneker created could be acquired for the collections of the Deutsche Kinemathek from the artist's widow in 1963. Approximately 340 posters and numerous original poster designs are the only nearly complete collection of Fenneker’s work known worldwide. They reflect a great deal more than just the history Berlin cinema and of the city. In addition to the cinemas that premiered films in Berlin, first and foremost the Marmorhaus on Kurfürstendamm (since 1919), Berlin film production companies also commissioned Fenneker to make posters. A large percentage of the films represented in the posters are considered lost, which means the graphics can be used as an additional source for film studies research. In addition to the posters, Fenneker also designed invitations to premieres, company programmes and other advertising materials. These can be found in the Document Archive. Event posters, advertising graphics, and two scene designs for the film ‘Zwischen Nacht und Morgen’ (GER, 1931, directed by Gerhard Lamprecht) attest to Fenneker’s broad spectrum of work. Although the number of film posters Josef Fenneker made in the late 1910s and 1920s was extensive, this production decisively declined as of the mid-1930s. Following several years actively working as set designer for the opera in Duisburg, Fenneker began dedicating himself to new areas of responsibility in 1935. As early as the 1920s, he had collaborated on the redesign of an amusement park in Berlin. Until his death, Fenneker rarely worked again as a poster artist. (Text: Annett Sawall)