Zingend Vooraan (Singing in the Front) – Albert Hahn Jr., 1921
€975
“Zingend Vooraan – Bond van Arbeiderszangverenigingen in Nederland” [Singing in the Front – Union of Workers’ Choral Societies in the Netherlands]. Colour lithograph designed by Albert Hahn Jr., published by Kunstdrukkerij J.A. Luii & Co, Amsterdam, in 1921. Signed and dated in the print at lower right. Size: 110 x 79.5 cm (frame: 114 x 82.5 cm).
In the early 1920s, the Dutch labour movement was in full force: the socialist pillar was building its own institutions for both politics and culture. Workers founded their own choirs, sports clubs, and associations. One such initiative was the Union of Workers’ Choral Societies in the Netherlands.
A workers’ choir was more than a pastime – it was a way to foster a sense of community and to express the ideals of the working class through song. “Singing in the Front” reflects this spirit: workers stand at the forefront of social struggle, singing together with confidence and unity.
Designer Albert Hahn Jr. (1894–1953) grew up at the heart of the socialist movement. His stepfather was Albert Hahn Sr. (1877–1918), a leading socialist illustrator and poster artist whose powerful images gave the labour movement a visual identity. Hahn Jr. followed in his footsteps and shared his ideals, but developed a more decorative and less monumental style – clearly visible in the elegant visual language of Singing in the Front. Yet their core mission remained the same: using art to inspire and unite the working class.
In a striking composition, revolutionary red flags dominate the poster, set against a decorative backdrop of green scrolls and yellow patterns. The mix of bold design, strong typography, and ornate decoration is characteristic of the Amsterdam School graphic style.
Price: Euro 975,- (incl. frame)
