Das Ballett der Wintersaison 1919–1920 by Josef Fenneker | Vintage German Ballet & Expressionist Theater Poster

Das Ballett der Wintersaison – A Dramatic German Dance Poster by Josef Fenneker

Bring the theatrical intensity, avant-garde color, and expressive movement of Weimar-era German design into your home, studio, theater, or gallery wall with Das Ballett der Wintersaison 1919/20, a spectacular vintage performance poster by celebrated German artist Josef Fenneker.

Created to advertise the winter ballet season of 1919–1920 and an upcoming Berlin appearance, the composition features two dancers intertwined in a highly stylized pose. Their elongated limbs, angular gestures, flowing costumes, and dramatic expressions create a scene charged with movement, sensuality, and theatrical tension.

The foreground dancer appears to lean or fall diagonally across the composition, one arm lifted above the head and the other extended outward in a delicate gesture. Pale skin illuminated with green and violet shadows contrasts sharply with a richly patterned costume of purple, magenta, black, and crimson.

Behind the central figure, a second performer emerges from the darkness wearing a patterned cap and green-violet costume. The supporting dancer’s obscured face and close position heighten the sense of mystery, suggesting a choreographed embrace, dramatic lift, or moment of suspended motion.

Fenneker’s figures do not conform to the graceful realism traditionally associated with classical ballet. Instead, their bodies are distorted and elongated to communicate psychological intensity, rhythm, and emotional expression. This approach reflects the influence of German Expressionism and the experimental performance culture that flourished in Berlin after World War I.

The brilliant costumes are among the poster’s most memorable features. Decorative black patterns twist across purple fabric, while vivid red feathers flare around the hips and legs. These energetic shapes seem to move independently, extending the dancers’ gestures and turning costume into an essential part of the choreography.

The deep black background eliminates any conventional stage setting. The dancers appear to float in darkness, illuminated by unnatural green, violet, white, and red light. This theatrical isolation creates the atmosphere of a dream, cabaret performance, or experimental stage production.

Large green lettering curves and angles around the performers rather than remaining confined to a rigid block. The upper text announces:

“Das Ballett der Wintersaison 19/20”

Translated, this means:

“The Ballet of the Winter Season 1919/20.”

Additional lettering identifies the featured performers and announces an upcoming appearance in Berlin. The irregular placement of the words contributes to the composition’s rhythmic movement, making the typography feel like part of the dance.

Josef Fenneker became renowned for his bold posters promoting Berlin films, theaters, cabarets, dancers, and popular entertainers. His work is distinguished by psychologically charged figures, dramatic lighting, distorted anatomy, and vivid color combinations rooted in German Expressionism.

This poster captures a transformative period in Berlin’s cultural history. The years immediately following World War I saw renewed experimentation in theater, dance, cinema, costume, music, and nightlife. Artists and performers challenged traditional conventions, producing a visual culture that was daring, provocative, and distinctly modern.

The poster’s combination of ballet, exotic costume, expressive anatomy, and theatrical darkness makes it especially appealing to collectors of Weimar culture, German Expressionism, dance history, cabaret art, and early twentieth-century performance posters.

This museum-grade reproduction makes an exceptional focal point in dance studios, ballet schools, theaters, dressing rooms, performance venues, music rooms, bedrooms, home cinemas, cocktail lounges, fashion studios, and dramatic gallery walls. It also makes a distinctive gift for dancers, choreographers, actors, costume designers, and admirers of German avant-garde art.

Why Collectors Love This Print

• Reproduces a dramatic 1919 poster by German artist Josef Fenneker
• Advertises the ballet winter season of 1919–1920
• Features two dancers in an expressive intertwined pose
• Uses elongated anatomy and angular gestures to communicate movement
• Displays richly patterned purple, black, crimson, and magenta costumes
• Includes vivid red feather details that extend the dancers’ motion
• Uses green and violet shadows to create theatrical illumination
• Demonstrates the psychological intensity of German Expressionist art
• Preserves the original German performance and Berlin announcement text
• Captures the experimental dance culture of post–World War I Berlin
• Appeals to collectors of ballet, theater, cabaret, and Weimar-era design
• Creates a dramatic focal point in studios, theaters, and dressing rooms
• Complements Expressionist, theatrical, maximalist, and avant-garde interiors
• Makes an exceptional gift for dancers, choreographers, and costume designers
• Preserves the visual character of a significant historic performance poster

Available Print & Display Options

• Fine Art Prints – A versatile unframed option for custom framing and traditional gallery presentation
• Framed Fine Art Prints – Professionally presented for an elegant, ready-to-display appearance
• Gallery-Wrapped Canvas – A dimensional canvas format with the artwork wrapped around the edges
• Black Floater Frame Canvas – A seamless dramatic presentation that integrates with the theatrical black background
• White Floater Frame Canvas – A crisp contrasting frame that emphasizes the vivid costumes and pale dancers
• Brown Floater Frame Canvas – A warm finish suited to theaters, studios, libraries, and traditional interiors
• Natural Floater Frame Canvas – A lighter organic presentation for dance schools and transitional spaces
• Metal Prints – A sleek contemporary format that intensifies the green, violet, crimson, and black palette

Every display option preserves the intertwined dancers, expressive anatomy, elaborate costumes, historic German typography, and distinctive Fenneker atmosphere. Choose the material and presentation that best complements your performance space or art collection.

Artwork Details

• Title: Das Ballett der Wintersaison 1919/20
• Artist: Josef Fenneker
• Date: 1919
• Country of Origin: Germany
• Location Referenced: Berlin, Germany
• Original Purpose: Ballet-season and theatrical-performance advertising
• Subject: Two costumed dancers performing an expressive partnered pose
• Text Translation: “The Ballet of the Winter Season 1919/20”
• Style: German Expressionism, Weimar-era theatrical design, and vintage performance advertising
• Primary Colors: Black, emerald green, violet, magenta, crimson red, white, and pale blue
• Notable Imagery: Ballet dancers, patterned costumes, red feathers, elongated limbs, theatrical lighting, and curved typography
• Recommended Spaces: Dance studios, ballet schools, theaters, dressing rooms, performance venues, music rooms, bedrooms, lounges, and galleries

Disclaimer

This artwork is a Museum Grade Reproduction of a Historical advertising poster. It is not the original 1919 poster and is offered as a decorative fine-art reproduction. Minor variations in color, cropping, texture, and visible age-related characteristics may occur depending on the selected size, material, and display format.

Yesterday’s Posters is an independent seller and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Josef Fenneker, the featured performers, the original production, or any associated company, estate, theater, institution, or rights holder.