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Herbert Paus (1880-1946) was a graphic communicator and illustrator whose work varied between art for magazines, posters, children books and comic strips. His work was very versatile but he is best known for the poster designs he created during World War 1. These graphics had a strong visual impact and gained increasing attention from the mainstream press, including the New York herald, in 1919.

When the war ended he was a very well established and popular illustrator, and with his increasing popularity he was able to choose his own assignments at will. His reputation continued to grow and was very committed to his advertising work. He had a very elaborate technique, and was described by graphic art an artist with “a fine sense of colour and a maker of absolutely practical advertising in a truly artistic manner”.

Paus was a softly spoken individual, one magazine profile said “He is extremely adaptable to any age, but is reserved except for when he is in the company of intimate friends, and it takes time to know and appreciate the exceptional merits of this talented and overly modest artist.”

Herbert paus wasn’t shy to experimenting either, he took to different design approaches and experimented vastly with the use of colour. In the popular science magazine’s series on “Notable American Illustrators” Walker engraving company drew attention to Herbert Paus “because his colour is as daring as the scale of the monumental figures (daring-but beautifully arranged)”. He achieved his strong colour effect through manipulating traditional media, concentrating on specific colours which would allow his work to stand out.

He worked as a freelance illustrator during WW1, producing striking poster design to encourage people to join forces. His work eventually led to magazine illustrations and cover designs, where he worked for a variety of publications including Victor Records, Hart Schaftnar, marx and popular science monthly. He created a variety of designs for popular science, due to his knowledge and understanding in the subject, he produced all of their covers from 1927 – 1931. When it came to drawing, he based his model direct from life, and would usually use his wife to pose for the drawing of his figures.

Background

At the early age of seven Paus began to show his ability in art and developed an interest from drawing. His artistic talents was good enough that it was recognised and encouraged by his parents who later sent him to the house of a local artist, Burt Harwood, where he would study art with him and several other boys every Saturday. Burt Harwood had studied in Europe and had an eccentric taste for art which led to open-minded thinking and captured the kid’s imagination. Paus enjoyed his art lessons with Harwood and found it atmospherically secluded, the lessons allowed him to enhance his ability and artistically thrive. His family moved to State of Washington but he continued to study with Harwood over the three summers.

Work

Paus went searching for his first job at the age of 16 through the influence of Harwood. He got his first job as a cartoonist for St Paul Pioneer Press newspaper. After two years as staff cartoonist, according to graphic arts “decided that art and journalism were not yet reconciled to each other and joined the Binner Engraving Company of Chicago, which was discovering commercial illustration.” Following his passion for illustration Paus moved to Chicago, where a New York office opened at around 1988, to assure Binner’s company’s growth, Paus was on staff at the age of 19. Dedicated to his illustrative ability while at Chicago he enrolled in the Chase School of Arts, so that he could take part in classes while he wasn't at Binner’s. He studied among legendary tutors Robert Henri, George Bridgman and F.V DuMond.

Herbert Paus began his freelance illustration career in 1902 for more freedom and flexibility, as he thought it was the best path to follow. His early clients included, the ladies home journal, Life, Delineator, Pictoral review, St. Nicholas and The Associated Sunday Magazine. He also created designs for a variety of theoretical set productions. As a hard-working and dedicated illustrator he made a success out of his career. His ability to produce effective, striking and detailed work led to his success and huge popularity when world war one came around.

With the war undergo, a huge desire for professionally produced art work opened up to inspire citizenry. The division of pictorial publicity took on the responsibility for seeking out the most talented artists for the job, and Paus was one of the first to help out.

Paus poster designs worked exceptionally well with what was intended, designing bold poster designs with vivid colours that expressed the need for recruits and urging them to join up for services overseas as well as more local projects, such as the woman’s Land army. Paus was very committed to his work and used techniques of strong composition of colours and detail. New York’s tribune’s 1919 profile praises his efforts and the “willingness and promptness with which he gave his services unrewarded…”