Ernest Marcuse Collection

Collection of archival material relating to the working life of commercial artist and graphic designer, Ernst Heinrich (anglicised Ernest Henry) Marcuse (1900-1969), including documents, such as illustrations, brochures, booklets, maps, and artefacts, such as posters, original artwork.
German-born Ernest Marcuse (1900-1985) trained in illustration and interior design in Berlin and from 1925-34, he worked primarily as freelance press artist specializing in industrial, architectural and figure drawing, before being forced to leave Germany in 1938. Ernest moved to London in late 1938, and subsequently immigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in October 1939, where he and his wife Lotte were accepted as refugees.
Soon after his arrival in Melbourne Ernest the Argus employed him as war events illustrator. He became the Argus’s major war artist where he graphically illustrated in fine detail including cross sections of ships artillery and aircraft. Particularly admired were his depictions of battles highlighting his unique ability to envisage such destruction from the air. Many of these drawings were reproduced on the front pages of Argus Weekend Magazine. In May 1940 as the war intensified, the Argus dismissed Ernest due to his Australian Government Classification as a ‘Stateless person of enemy origin.’ He then began to establish himself as a commercial artist.
In early 1942 Marcuse was de-classified as a ‘Stateless person’ and enlisted in the Australian Army’s Citizens Military Forces, where his skills in design were utilized to make visual training aids and posters. As Private EH Marcuse, he was posted to Bonegilla, Woodside, SA and finally Melbourne. He was demobilized in 1945. Between 1946 and 1969 Ernest concentrated on a career as freelance commercial artist and graphic designer creating advertisements for numerous household products, magazines, and industry, including CRA/Conzinc (Rio), Vacuum Oil (Caltex), Fulton Garden Supplies, Cottees (Schweppes & Heinz), Australian Home Beautiful magazine, International (Iveco) Trucks and EGO Pharmaceuticals (Sunsense, QV). He retired in 1969.
The Ernest Marcuse archive (0001.2022) comprises four boxes. Each box contains of illustrations, and artwork published and unpublished for advertisements and brochures a variety of clients, including Australian Home Beautiful, the Jewish Community, Australian government agencies, and Victorian industry. For example, Box 3 contains Marcuse’s war illustrations for The Argus Weekend magazine illustrations for Bullen’s and Aston Circus; two silk scarves designed for Fresca; and an illustration showing the construction of the Old Treasury Building, Melbourne. Box four contains a map of Victoria showing industries, animals and tourist locations, c. 1950s, angled relief map.
An inventory for the collection is available online. A selection of Marcuse’s illustrations for product advertising have been digitized and are available online.