Eric Rohman: The Swedish Poster Artist Who Defined a Century of Film Design

Thu, 07 May 2026 03:45:00 +0200

Eric Rohman, born in Nyköping, Sweden in 1891, became one of the few artists in the early 20th century to make a full-time living exclusively from creating posters. Over his prolific career, he produced approximately 7,000 posters, many for films, averaging four to five posters per week in the late 1940s. His entrance into poster art was aided by his brother’s position managing a major Swedish cinema chain, but Rohman's talent lay in his ability to capture the essence of a film using minimal elements. Known for his bold, graphic style, Rohman often worked with limited colors, strong silhouettes, and expressive faces, producing designs that feel modern even by today’s standards. He frequently employed linocut printing, favoring clarity and visual impact over fine detail. Despite early criticism that dismissed film posters as disposable, Rohman’s work earned admiration for its elegant simplicity, Art Deco influence, and cinematic quality. He passed away in Stockholm in 1949, but his lega