«Happy Birthday Ludwig van Beethoven»

Today, 250 years after the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, the works of the German pianist and composer are still just as popular as they were during his lifetime. The Ninth Symphony in particular is one of the most well-known and beloved pieces of music worldwide.

Beethoven’s striking head with its high forehead and flowing hair is often used as an eye-catcher on posters. Other posters for concerts of his work play with the letter B or showcase his distinctive signature. Josef Müller-Brockmann’s concert posters, in which he translated classical music into harmonious, rhythmically arranged geometric elements, were occasionally dedicated to pieces by Beethoven. His poster for the Coriolan Overture became an icon, captivating for its deft balance between mathematical logic and visual experimentation. The conflicted hero Coriolan, caught up between temperamental rage and straightforward action, finds expression both in Beethoven’s overture and Müller-Brockmann’s poster.