Herbert Lechner

Günter Gerhard Lange – a memory
Our first encounter took place in the restaurant on the second floor of Munich’s main train station. A location that Günter Gerhard Lange had suggested, although at that time it was already characterized mainly by faded glamor and pathetic service. It was an unforgettable meeting for me, because there sat the great GGL – known to me at that time mainly through the AG Buch from the corporate design of dtv – and opposite him an insecure, ignorant and doubt-ridden student. But he was taken seriously. The newcomer received advice, authors and books were recommended, special aspects were mentioned – not patronizingly or superiorly, but with that natural authority that is simply based on unique knowledge. Günter Gerhard Lange never felt the need to show off this knowledge and expertise. Many more conversations followed, often with a large time gap, but always as if there had been only a short interruption. The occasions and places changed, but there was always this atmosphere of a certain familiarity, a mutual understanding, even a kind of friendship. At that meeting in the station restaurant, he also uttered the famous “Typography is a brittle mistress, but to those who earnestly strive for it, it will reveal all its beauty.” From then on, I was addicted to both: the beloved typography and Günter Gerhard Lange. Thank you GGL!

Herbert Lechner