Paul Calle (American, 1928 - 2010) and Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "1930s - Streamlined Design" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 32? Streamlin Design/1930's 20th Century stamps issued September 10, 1998. Prior to the early 20th century, ornamentation was universally regarded as a necessary component of product design. Products were deemed incomplete -- even soulless -- without lavish adornment. By the 1930s, however, such pretentious ornamentation fell out of favor with designers. In 1932, Walter Maria Kersting's book, The Living Form, stated designers should create "simple and inexpensive objects, that should not appear more than what they are." The same year, Norman Bel Geddes published Horizons, an influential work that enthusiastically promoted smooth, organic shapes for aircraft, ships and cars. In 1933, the revolutionary Douglas DC-1 aircraft appeared. With its all-metal structure, stressed aluminum skin, and wings that were integrated into the fuselage, the plane made a dramatic impact on all future aircraft designs. Douglas soon followed this landmark achievement with the DC-2 and DC-3. A pilot of the era commented, "one glance at their aerodynamically clean lines and handsome, stressed-skin finish was enough to emphasize their advance over all contemporary design." This aesthetic gained even greater impetus after 1934, when the Nazi Party dissolved the Bauhaus, Germany's famous school of design, architecture and applied arts. Many designers of the Bauhaus emigrated to the United States, bringing their streamlined design principles with them. Image Size: 15.5 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 20 x 16 in. Unframed. (B16186 / B16187)