Flyon - Kia-Ora (1949)
Year: 1949
Format: Print Advert
Illustrator: Lewitt-Him - George Him (1900-1982) and Jan Le Witt (1907-1991)
Client: Kia-Ora
Details: This Kia-Ora advert from a 1949 issue of the Illustrated London News was illustrated by Lewitt-Him, the creative partnership of George Him (1900-1982) and Jan Le Witt (1907-1991).
George Him was born Jerzy Himmelfarb in Poland. Him studied law in Moscow and earned a PhD from Bonn in the comparative history of religions. He then enrolled at the Leipzig Academy for Graphic Art. Him was working as a freelancer until he met Le Witt.
Jan Le Witt was a self-taught artist also born in Poland. He had previously worked in thirteen different professions including mechanical engineering, soap manufacturing, bricklaying, farm labouring and art directing.
Le Witt and Him met in a Warsaw cafe in 1933, beginning a long collaborative partnership that brought them to the UK. They produced work for clients including the Festival of Britain, London Transport and Imperial Airways, as well creating children’s books.
The partnership ended in 1954 when Le Witt decided to concentrate on abstract painting and stage design. Him continued to work as a graphic artist, creating work for companies such as Schweppes, El Al and Penguin Books. Him went on to teach graphic design at Leicester Polytechnic from 1969 until 1977.