Erik Nitsche (Connecticut, Switzerland, 1908 - 1998) Original painting, "United Nations Around the World". Original Mixed media painting on Illustration Board. Signed lower right. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.N. 67c 40th Anniversary of the United Nations Souvenir Sheet issued June 26, 1985. Nitsche was a pioneer in the design of books, annual reports, and other printed material that relied on meticulous attention to the details of page composition, the elegance of simple type presentation, and the juxtaposition of elements on a page. His hallmarks were impeccably clear design, brilliant colors, smart typography, and an adherence to particular geometric foundations. Nitsche studied at the College Classique of Lausanne and the Kunstgewerbeschule in Munich. Prior to immigrating to the United States, he was a designer for Simplicissimus, Jugend, and Der Querschnitt, creating covers and illustrations. He moved to the United States in 1934, where he worked in Hollywood before moving to New York in 1936. In New York, he worked for major magazines including Life, Vanity Fair, and Harper?s Bazaar as well as advertising and promotional campaigns for Twentieth Century Fox and Universal. In 1955, Nitsche began working with engineering company General Dynamics as art director, which he held until 1960. He designed a breakthrough series of posters, in addition to designing their corporate image, annual reports, and advertising through the development of information design systems. Nitsche designed a 420-page book on the company's history entitled Dynamic America, prompting him to begin designing his own books. Nitsche was also a consultant to the Museum of Modern Art's department of design and to Standard Oil of New Jersey in the 1950s and 60s. Early in World War II, European leaders of nine allied nations against Germany met in London. Overrun by nazi forces and driven from their homelands, these leaders met to sign a declaration pledging to work for a world free from war and oppression; a world where all people could live in peace and security. This important meeting laid the ground work for an international organization which would become known as the United Nations. In 1945 representatives from fifty nations met in San Francisco where they all voted to accept the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter became effective on October 24, 1945. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B09618) See More