Borussia Malzbier, created by the German firm Hollerbaum & Schmidt in 1898, makes its appeal through an emphatic combination of product, lettering and colour. Three dark bottles rise against a pale ground, their staggered heights giving the otherwise frontal arrangement a surprising sense of depth. Above them, the name “BORUSSIA” appears in commanding red capitals, framed by a broad band of the same colour. Black, yellow, green and touches of gold sharpen the contrast, turning an everyday commercial object into a concise and energetic graphic composition.

The poster belongs to the flourishing advertising culture of the fin de siècle, when illustrated publicity was becoming an increasingly conspicuous feature of modern urban life. Hollerbaum & Schmidt were known for bold commercial designs, and here the firm balances immediate legibility with decorative richness. The brewer’s name can be grasped at a glance, while the detailed bottle labels reward closer attention. This combination of speed and intricacy was central to effective poster design: the message needed to register from a distance without becoming visually thin at close quarters.

A closer look

The largest bottle occupies the centre foreground, its almost black silhouette anchoring the entire design. A green-and-gold label interrupts that dark mass with intricate borders, fine lettering and a small green emblem. The bottle’s upright form echoes the vertical format of the poster itself, while the bold red heading above acts almost like an architectural lintel, pressing down upon the clustered vessels and holding the composition together.

To the lower right, two smaller bottles overlap the central form. One carries a bright yellow label with crisp black lettering; the other, set slightly behind, introduces a warmer orange accent. Their reduced scale and partial concealment establish a shallow but effective recession into space. Subtle cast shadows further separate the bottles from the pale background, though the lighting remains deliberately flat enough to preserve the clean, poster-like clarity of their outlines.

Typography is used with comparable variety. The blunt, widely visible capitals of “BORUSSIA” establish the brand first, while smaller lines—including “Malz Bier ärztlich empfohlen für”—supply the persuasive detail of the advertisement. Bold type and more fluid script-like forms alternate across the design, creating movement without competing with the bottles. Even the labels function as miniature compositions within the larger one, dense with pattern and text where the surrounding field remains spare.

Context and significance

By the late nineteenth century, commercial posters had become a meeting point between art, industry and the street. Strong colour, simplified silhouettes and assertive lettering allowed advertisers to address passers-by quickly, while advances in colour publicity encouraged designers to develop increasingly ambitious visual identities. Borussia Malzbier reflects that transition particularly well: it is practical in purpose, yet carefully orchestrated in every overlap, accent and shift of scale.

What remains compelling is the economy of the arrangement. There is no anecdotal scene and no figure demonstrating the drink; the bottles themselves carry the argument. Hollerbaum & Schmidt give them the presence of a still life while retaining the directness of an advertisement—a compact example of how fin-de-siècle graphic design could make branding, typography and decorative form operate as one.

Choosing the right size and finish

Artwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.

If you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, ask our workshop for advice.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. See examples of personalised artwork.

Choose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. See examples of our Aged artwork.

Every piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.

Framed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.

Selected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and specialist framing are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, contact our workshop.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.