Isotype
The Picture Language from Vienna
March 11, 2026
In 1925 Otto Neurath founded the Museum of Society and Economics in Vienna. The goal was to spread knowledge about social, economic, and political contexts as a basis for a democratic society. Neurath and his team developed the "Vienna Method of Pictorial Statistics," which was renamed "Isotype" (International System of Typographic Picture Education) in political exile in 1935.
After fleeing to England in 1941, Otto and Marie Neurath worked with renowned documentary filmmaker Paul Rotha, who adapted the picture language of Isotype for the cinema. About 15 films were made in the service of war reconnaissance and peace planning. The short film A Few Ounces a Day (1941) called for collecting garbage and World of Plenty (1943) set its sights on the future, denouncing social inequality and propagating economic planning and social progress.
A collaboration with the Wien Museum and the exhibition: Knowledge for All: ISOTYPE – the Picture Language from Vienna (until April 5, 2026)
In 1925 Otto Neurath founded the Museum of Society and Economics in Vienna. The goal was to spread knowledge about social, economic, and political contexts as a basis for a democratic society. Neurath and his team developed the "Vienna Method of Pictorial Statistics," which was renamed "Isotype" (International System of Typographic Picture Education) in political exile in 1935.
After fleeing to England in 1941, Otto and Marie Neurath worked with renowned documentary filmmaker Paul Rotha, who adapted the picture language of Isotype for the cinema. About 15 films were made in the service of war reconnaissance and peace planning. The short film A Few Ounces a Day (1941) called for collecting garbage and World of Plenty (1943) set its sights on the future, denouncing social inequality and propagating economic planning and social progress.
A collaboration with the Wien Museum and the exhibition: Knowledge for All: ISOTYPE – the Picture Language from Vienna (until April 5, 2026)
For each series, films are listed in screening order.