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2 panel magic poster vintage German
magic poster for the illusionist Alois Kassner, advertising his famous escape act, "Der Mann in der Kanne" ("The Man in the Can").
The Poster and the Act
Magician: Direktor Alois Kassner (1887-1970) was a prominent German stage illusionist, considered the most important European illusionist between the world wars.
Illusion: The poster advertises his version of the "Milk Can Escape," an illusion made famous by Harry Houdini. In the act, Kassner was confined in a sealed metal can and would escape without touching the locks.
Artwork: The striking color lithograph poster, created by the Altona-based printer Heinrich Barkow around 1918-1925, uses vivid Expressionist and Fauvist-inspired colors.
Imagery: The poster features macabre imagery, including a large winged devil figure above and two red imps at the bottom, suggesting that Kassner's escape relied on supernatural assistance as part of the theatrical presentation. The German text reads "Direktor Kassner der unvergleichliche Zauberkünstler" ("Direktor Kassner, the incomparable magician"). |
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