Hans Rudi Erdt (31 March 1883 – 24 May 1918)[1][2] was a German graphic designer, lithographer and commercial artist known for his contributions to the Sachplakat movement created by Lucian Bernhard.

[3][4][5] His work at the prestigious Hollerbaum und Schmidt art printing company along with Edmund Edel, Hans Lindenstadt, Julius Klinger, Julius Gipkens, Paul Scheurich and Karl Schulpig[6] make him one of the most important representatives of German poster art between 1906 and 1918.

[10] Born in Benediktbeuern, Bavaria,[11] he trained as a lithographer and became a student of Maximilian Dasio at the Munich School of Applied Arts.

He joined Hollerbaum und Schmidt around 1908, becoming part of the "Berlin School",[12] where he created what is considered one of the most enduring examples of Sachplakat, an advertisement for the nascent racing division of the Opel car manufacturer.

[19][20] His advertising work varied, from Nivea[21][22] to illustrated weekly newspapers such as Die Woche,[23] tourism and travel events[24] and tobacco companies such as Batschari, Manoli and Mahala Problem [de].