Sketch for oval medallion and ‘Ruppert Beer’ blue and silver logo 1935

Winold Reiss made this sketch for an oval medallion and ‘Ruppert Beer’ blue and silver logo, but we don't know exactly when or with what materials. The color palette is restrained. That blue, a kind of assertive, graphic blue, is echoed in the stripes, balanced by the cool silver and white. These colors aren't blended so much as allowed to sit next to each other, clearly delineating forms. Look at the lines that make up the stripes, they are individual, wobbly, each one a decision. The oval itself is not perfect; the lines waver. The texture is smooth and flat, but the brushstrokes are visible, especially in the white of the central oval, creating a sense of depth and dimension. You can see that the maker isn't interested in hiding the process or his hand. In this way, I'm reminded of Stuart Davis, another artist fascinated by logos, signs, and the urban landscape. What distinguishes Reiss is his interest in decoration, which makes this piece more playful than rigid. This logo embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations.