Willem Sandberg

Willem Sandberg, actually: Jonkheer Willem Jacob Henri Berend Sandberg ( born October 24, 1897 in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, † April 9, 1984 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch graphic artist, typographer and graphic designer who specializes in commercial art, museum director and internationally renowned for its poster art and catalog designs.

Life and work

Willem Sandberg was a supporter of Mazdaznan movement. As a young man he worked as an apprentice at a printing plant in Herrliberg in Switzerland. In 1927 he visited Vienna where he studied Otto Neurath's Isotype system. He traveled to Germany, the Bauhaus in Dessau visited and met Naum Gabo. He worked between 1927-1935 with psychology in Vienna and Utrecht and then studied art in Amsterdam yet.

After his return to Amsterdam he worked as a graphic artist and began his long relationship from 1928 to the Stedelijk Museum. In 1932 he became a member of VANK, the Dutch Society of Arts and Crafts. From 1937 to 1941 he was curator of the museum of modern art, from 1938 director of the Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum Second. After the Second World War, he became director of the Stedelijk Museum until his retirement in 1962. During his tenure, he expanded the museum and exhibition developed new techniques for which he became internationally known. He was also prominently involved in the graphic design and typography of over 300 catalogs.

From 1947 to 1951 he was President of the Dutch artist group and from 1948 to 1960 vice-president of the Dutch Arts Council. In 1952, he received an acclaim from the Resistance Movement Award for graphic and 1957 Werkman Prize of the city of Amsterdam. In 1962 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buffalo (USA). In 1964 some of his work at the documenta III in Kassel in the Department graphics were shown.

He was involved in establishing the new Israeli National Museum in Jerusalem; From 1964 he was its chairman. In the same year he received the Frans - Duwaer price.

Literature and sources

• Documenta III. International Exhibition; Catalogue: Volume 1: Paintings and Sculpture; Volume 2: Hand drawings; Volume 3: Industrial design, graphic; Kassel / Cologne 1964