Cirkelkaffe

Bold, graphic, and unmistakably mid-century. This original authentic 1952 Cirkelkaffe poster by Harry Bernmark features a powerful side profile of a man in a wide straw hat, his face rendered in warm, sculptural tones against a glowing blue sky. A large turquoise hoop earring forms a striking circular accent—visually echoing the “cirkel” (circle) concept and anchoring the brand identity.

Behind him stretches a stylized agricultural landscape of fields and distant hills, suggesting coffee-growing origins while keeping the composition clean and poster-strong rather than detailed. The color palette—sun-baked ochres, sky blues, earthy greens, and the sharp turquoise ring—creates high contrast and instant visibility from afar, a hallmark of great advertising design of the era.

The bold lowercase “cirkelkaffe” lettering at the bottom balances the heavy graphic portrait above. Notably, the silhouette of this figure became the Cirkelkaffe logotype in Sweden, making this design not just an advertisement but the foundation of the brand’s visual identity.

An excellent-condition example of Scandinavian commercial modernism—iconic, minimal, and highly memorable.

Marked: Annons Svea No 21190/K1