Mauricio Amster Cats: A Life Dedicated to Art & Social Change

Early Life and Education (1907-1936)

• Mauricio Amster Cats was born in 1907 in Lemberg, Ukraine (now Lviv), into a Sephardic Jewish family.
• He completed his initial education in Lviv before moving to Austria in 1927, leaving his family behind – tragically, his parents later perished in the Nazi concentration camp at Belzec.
• His attempts to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna were unsuccessful, leading him to Berlin where he honed his skills at the Reimann School between 1927 and 1930.
• Facing economic hardship during the Depression era, Amster relocated to Madrid, Spain, establishing himself as a freelance artist for publishers like Dedalo, Oriente, Zeus, and Ulises.
• Before mid-1936, he became involved with the Communist Party, taking on the vital role of being 'responsible for transport of the National Artistic Treasure' during the Spanish Civil War, safeguarding paintings evacuated from the Museo del Prado.

Spanish Civil War & Political Engagement (1936-1939)

• Amster actively participated in the Congress of Anti-fascist Intellectuals in July 1937, where he met influential Chilean poets Vicente Huidobro and Pablo Neruda.
• He served within the Ministry of Public Instructions and Arts, creating the renowned “Cartilla,” an ideological elementary textbook designed for uneducated soldiers of the Republican Army – it was widely distributed (125,000 copies initially) and translated into multiple languages.
• To escape the advancing forces of General Franco, Amster and his wife, Adina Amenedo, fled Barcelona in January 1939, crossing into France.

Life and Work in Chile (1939-1980)

• In 1939, Amster emigrated to Chile aboard the SS Winnipeg, a ship carrying over 2,200 immigrants aided by Pablo Neruda and the Chilean government.
• He began his career in Chile designing for the arts and literary journal *Babel*, followed by work with the Cruz del Sur publishing house.
• From 1947 onwards, he served as an art director at Zig Zag Publishing before forging a strong connection with Universitaria Publishers, contributing to publications like *Anales* and *Revista de Filosofia*.
• Amster was also a dedicated educator, founding the School of Journalism, Communication Science and Technology alongside Ernesto Montenegro. He continued working for Editorial del Pacifico.
• He designed over 500 books throughout his career in Chile.

Artistic Style & Influences

• Amster’s work is characterized by a blend of socialist realism, modernism, and strong typographic design.
• His posters often feature bold geometric shapes, symbolic imagery, and a clear message reflecting his political beliefs.
• He was influenced by the Bauhaus movement and the principles of functionalist design.
• The Ministry of Public Instruction and Manoeuvres days are prime examples of his propaganda poster work, showcasing Soviet-inspired tank imagery and striking visual compositions.

Legacy & Historical Significance

• Mauricio Amster Cats’s legacy lies in his prolific output as a book designer, graphic artist, and educator.
• His commitment to social justice and political activism is evident throughout his work.
• He played a significant role in shaping the visual landscape of Chile during the mid-20th century.
• Amster’s contributions continue to be recognized for their artistic merit and historical importance, particularly within the context of Latin American art and design.