We See Colors With Our Tongues

Posted on April 5, 2026 by JMN

A poster Mr. Widmer designed in 1975 for an exhibition at the Center for Industrial Creation in Paris. He was known for his restraint, Paula Scher of Pentagram said: “He was never over the top.” Credit… Jean Widmer. [New York Times caption and illustration]

This is my favorite poster ’til further notice. I see yellow, orange, red, violet, blue, green. What do you see?

Jean Widmer was born Hans Ulrich Widmer on March 31, 1929, in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, to Emil Widmer, a master mechanic in a factory, and Anna (Rageth) Widmer. His father, he once told an interviewer, worried about his penchant for drawing.

(Adam Nossiter, “Jean Widmer, Designer of Celebrated French Graphics, Dies at 96,” (New York Times, 2-26-26)

About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.

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1 Response to We See Colors With Our Tongues

Sue Grey-Smith says:

April 5, 2026 at 6:50 am

Oh that’s lovely! I had to do a double-take to get it!!

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