Hubert Hilscher
1924 - 1999
Hubert Hilscher is an artist with an unmistakeable style, who spent two decades as art director of Projekt, the Polish art and design magazine that inspired our name.
After fighting in the Warsaw Uprising as a 20-year-old, Hilscher enrolled in the State Academic School of Plastic Arts, which merged with the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw the following year — the hub of the Polish Poster School. He went on to design posters, books and logos, winning Best Poster three times at the International Poster Biennial, among other prizes.
Most of Hilscher’s posters in our collection are for the state circus, a recurring topic of his work. His designs of lions, zebras, leopards, tigers and monkeys and acrobats are bold and stylised, with a colour palette that favours assertive, clashing reds and greens.
“It seemed to me,” he has been quoted as saying, “that a person who goes to the circus to see a trained lion will also want to see it on the poster; a lion that is real but different from the one that can be seen in the zoo. I try to adapt the depictions of animals to the circus environment by the use of unreal colour or movement but still maintaining the realist form.”
Hubert Hilscher passed away in 1999, at the age of 75. He is buried in Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw.
• Shop Hubert Hilscher
Introducing our latest circus friend. This bold and utterly joyful 1967 vintage Polish circus poster ‘Leafy Balancing Circus Lion’ (Lew Lisciasty) by Hubert Hilscher, is just bursting with beautiful mid-century charm.
Polish B1 size: 68 x 98 cm
Condition: small tear visible in the bottom right corner. Otherwise perfect.
At last, one of our favourite circus posters has been officially reprinted in this special edition. We hope you fall in love with this joyful 1970 vintage Polish circus poster ‘Circus Cyclist’ by Hubert Hilscher, just like we did.
Polish B1 size: 67 × 98 cm
Limited edition: 500, reprinted 2020
Note from the printing house in Poland: “Our offset prints are made on matte paper similar to the original. We keep the poster formats from the period, we try to faithfully reproduce the colours of old prints. Small editions, limited to 500 copies, respect all copyrights belonging to the graphic artists or their heirs.”
Another remarkable design by Hubert Hilscher for 1971 Art Nouveau Poster Exhibition at the Poster Museum in Wilanow.
Polish B1 size: 66.5 x 97 cm
This is a fully authorised official reproduction of the very special Circus Leopard originally designed in 1970 by Hubert Hilscher.
Polish B1 size: 98.5 × 69 cm
At last, one of our favourite circus posters has been officially reprinted in this special edition. We hope you fall in love with this joyful 1966 vintage Polish circus poster ‘Tiger on a Hoop’ by Hubert Hilscher, just like we did.
Polish B1 size: 67 x 97 cm
Limited edition: 500, reprinted 2023
Note from the printing house in Poland: “Our offset prints are made on matte paper similar to the original. We keep the poster formats from the period, we try to faithfully reproduce the colours of old prints. Small editions, limited to 500 copies, respect all copyrights belonging to the graphic artists or their heirs.”
Meet our latest circus friend. This official limited edition authorised reprint from Poland, of a bold and utterly joyful 1967 vintage Polish circus poster ‘Leafy Balancing Circus Lion’ (Lew Lisciasty) by Hubert Hilscher, is just bursting with beautiful mid-century charm.
Polish B1 size: 68 x 98 cm
Limited edition: 500, reprinted 2023
Note from the printing house in Poland: “Our offset prints are made on matte paper similar to the original. We keep the poster formats from the period, we try to faithfully reproduce the colours of old prints. Small editions, limited to 500 copies, respect all copyrights belonging to the graphic artists or their heirs.”
This is an official limited edition authorised reprint from Poland of a bold and utterly joyful 1970 vintage Polish circus poster ‘Stripey Circus Lion’ by Hubert Hilscher.
Polish B1 size: 68 x 98 cm
Condition: please note there are some small creases to the edges and the poster is now available at a reduced price.
Note from the printing house in Poland: “Our offset prints are made on matte paper similar to the original. We keep the poster formats from the period, we try to faithfully reproduce the colours of old prints. Small editions, limited to 500 copies, respect all copyrights belonging to the graphic artists or their heirs.”
Cheer your walls with this bright, bold and utterly charming Polish circus poster designed in 1971 by artist Hubert Hilscher. This vintage poster would have been pasted onto walls and hoardings in towns and cities to announce the imminent arrival of the State Circus.
This is an official limited edition B1 reprint (c.500), printed in Poland with kind permission from Hubert Hilscher’s family.
Polish B1 size: 66 x 96.5 cm
Note from the printing house in Poland: “Our offset prints are made on matte paper similar to the original. We keep the poster formats from the period, we try to faithfully reproduce the colours of old prints. Small editions, limited to 500 copies, respect all copyrights belonging to the graphic artists or their heirs.”
This is an original ‘Circus Lion King on a Throne’ Polish poster by Hubert Hilscher, first designed and printed in 1975. Hubert Hilscher is well known for his playful Cyrk (circus) posters which featured characterful beasts centre stage. The colours in real life are incredible.
Polish B1 size: 66.5 x 98 cm
Super cute and rare original insert poster from the Projekt magazine designed in 1978 by Hubert Hilscher.
Polish A2 size: 39.5 x 59 cm
Condition: please note the poster was previously folded as it’s an insert from a magazine.
An original vintage Polish Cepelia poster by Hubert Hilscher from 1966 — a bright, authentic piece of mid‑century design. Pure joy on paper, full of character and timeless charm.
Polish B1 size: 66 x 98 cm
This is a wonderfully bright and graphic print designed by Hubert Hilscher for the 1970 ‘Warsaw Autumn’ music festival (Warszawska Jesien). He designed it for the 14th International Festival of Contemporary Music. We absolutely adore the way he has captured the energy of the music in this poster.
Polish B1 size: 67 x 98.5 cm
Condition: There is creasing top left. Please see last photo. We’ve reduced the price of this particular piece to reflect the condition.
This is a beautiful minimalist graphic Polish poster by Hubert Hilscher. He designed this original vintage sports poster in 1976 for the World and European Ice Hockey Championships which were held at Katowice in Poland (Mistrzostwa Swiata i Europy w Hokeju na Lodzie).
Condition: excellent, with a few very minor creases
Polish B1 size: 67 x 97.5 cm
Toot ta da looooo! Not to blow our own trumpet but we are super happy to be able to bring you this sensational Jazz Jamboree poster by Hubert Hilscher :) It’s just adorable, isn’t it.
This is an official limited edition (c.500) reprint of the original 1972 design, offset printed in Poland with kind permission from Hubert Hilscher’s family.
Polish size B1: 67 x 98 cm
Note from the printing house in Poland: “Our offset prints are made on matte paper similar to the original. We keep the poster formats from the period, we try to faithfully reproduce the colours of old prints. Small editions, limited to 500 copies, respect all copyrights belonging to the graphic artists or their heirs.”
This original 1978 Polish Circus poster designed by epic legend of the Polish School of Posters Hubert Hilscher is such a delight. Mr Striped Circus Lion (Lew w Paski) will add wonder and charm wherever he goes with his vivid colours and Hilscher’s trademark seventies illustrative style. This copy is from the third official print run in 1978; the poster was first printed in 1970 to promote the State Circus.
Polish B1 size: 66 x 98 cm
Vintage Polish Circus Posters are just so full of character and charm. This gorgeous example from 1970 is by the legendary Polish poster artist Hubert Hilscher. Grinning Circus Leopard we call him.
Polish B1 size: 98 x 68 cm
Condition: Perfect. Don’t be alarmed by the thin paper. Paper was very scarce in Poland during the Communist years so the paper quality varies enormously as printing houses used whatever they could get their hands on.
Hubert Hilscher designed this wonderfully colourful Polish circus poster in 1979. It would have been displayed in towns and cities around the country to announce the imminent arrival of the State Circus. By making his zebra topsy turvy, Hilscher was able to share his opposition to Communist rule; the zebra, whilst appealing to look at, symbolised the state of the nation - which was also in disarray.
Polish B1 size: 66 x 96 cm
How super cool is this rare and original 1958 Polish poster by Hubert Hilscher ‘13 Komisariat’ (Guard 13)? He designed it for a 1946 Czech film noir production starring Dana Medricka, Jaroslav Marvan and Vilem Pfeiffer.
Polish A1 size: 58 x 85 cm
How awesome is this ‘Tiger on the Hoop’ Circus Polish poster by legend of the Polish School of Posters Hubert Hilscher? He originally designed it in 1966 and this authentic vintage Polish Circus poster ‘Tygrys na Kole’ is from the fourth official print run in 1979.
Polish B1 size: 66.5 x 97 cm
Condition - please note this copy has a little bit of a crease so we’ve reduced the price to reflect that.
What a poster… legend Hubert Hilscher x legend Harold Pinter = an absolute classic! Hubert Hilscher was a true master from the Polish School of Posters. Trained as an architect he loved balance and structure in this design is a wonderful example of that. Hubert Hilscher designed this vintage Polish theatre poster in 1968 for a production of Harold Pinter play ‘The Caretaker’ (Dozorca) at the Teatr Ateneum.
Polish A1 size: 56.5 x 84 cm
Condition: near mint
Incredible original first edition 1973 Polish Circus poster ‘Talking Monkey’ by Hubert Hilscher for the State run circus (Cyrk). Hubert Hilscher was trained as an architect before becoming a poster designer so his work is always very balanced. But, as here, also bursting with charm. This is a very iconic image and always makes us smile.
As with so many Polish posters there is a deeper hidden meaning, however, beneath the surface. From 1945-1989, when Poland was under strict Communist rule, monkeys were used to depict people in power. They often appear in the Cyrk (State circus) posters as there is also a famous Polish proverb which translates as 'Not my circus, not my monkey'. The design of the poster would have been to have a sly dig at the Communist state - not my circus, not my government.
Polish B1 size: 66.5 x 97.5 cm
This is a very collectible original 1978 vintage Polish poster ‘Warszawska Jesien’ (Warsaw’s Autumn) by legendary artist Hubert Hilscher. He designed it for the 22nd International Festival of Contemporary Music. He won an honourable mention in the ‘Best Poster of Warsaw’ competition 1978 and the ‘Most Popular Poster of the Month’ September 1978.
Polish B1 size: 66.5 x 98 cm
This beautiful Cepelia poster was designed in 1977 by the one and only Hubert Hilscher. We absolutely adore it.
Polish B1 size: 66 x 98 cm
Condition: small tears to the top edge of the poster
This is a beautiful minimalist graphic Polish poster by Hubert Hilscher. He designed this original vintage poster in 1966 for the Exhibition of Contemporary Dutch Graphic (Wystawa Wspolczesnej Grafiki Holenderskiej) held in Warsaw.
Polish B1 size: 68 x 99.5 cm
Condition: few minor creases around the edges of the poster.