Post 3 - Ivy Markham

Hollis: 76-96 | National Tendencies Until 1940

The chapter begins by discussing the famed Swiss designers of the time, and their typical style which “suppresses perspective and emphasizes the two-dimensionality of the printed sheet” (Hollis 76). The poster below for Cornetto tobacco by Hugo Laubi demonstrates this idea. However, after looking at more of his work, this wasn’t typical to Laubi. Many of his posters were hand illustrated or painted, and much more detailed and colorful. So, I found the primary color palette, repetition, and clean illustration style very interesting.

Laubi, H. (1934). Cornetto [Poster]. Retrieved from https://poster-auctioneer.com/en/realisierte_preise/view_real_price/Anonym-Cornetto-198287 (28 January 2020).

A.M. Cassandre has been mentioned multiple times in the book so far, and all the work shown has caught my attention. Some of it has reminded me of Fortunato Depero’s work, who’s posters I also love, especially the liquor and aperitif posters. So, I looked into more of his designs and came across this cover for Harper’s Bazaar which was especially reminiscent of Depero’s very graphic, black and white geometric posters for Campari. However, his incorporation of color, shading, and the realistic eye illustration make the design his own.

Cassandre, A.M. (1938). Harper’s Bazaar [Magazine Cover]. Retrieved from http://www.artnet.com/artists/am-cassandre/harpers-bazaar-10-covers-frU_WwzK5OqVtSxNQxVVXg2 (28 January 2020).

The series of safety posters for the London Underground by Maurice Beck in the book caught my eye. What stood out to me was the cursive hand-lettering as well as the overlayed image outlined in red. The two are very interesting contrasts with each other as well as with the very dark black and white background photo of the tracks. For me, the poster is a very unique mix of modern and vintage.

Beck, M. (1935). London Underground, The Tunnel Telephone [Poster]. Retrieved from https://paulsposterproject.rennart.co.uk/post/142949248330/lt-safety-posters-maurice-beck (28 January 2020).


Comments

  1. Karin BuffieJanuary 29, 2020 at 2:43 PM

    I love the last poster by Beck, mainly because of how dark the image is while still being able to capture your attention. I wonder if the image also helps with this as there is some curiosity as to what lays beyond the tunnel? There is a great sense of movement within this photo as well because of the tracks that guide the eye up the poster. I also agree that the red outline is a super cool touch, and even though it is simple, it stands out a lot and helps add a bold feeling to the whole design.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dani CummingsJanuary 29, 2020 at 2:56 PM

    I think your use of the Harper's Bazaar cover is an interesting use of very graphic design and communication. The use of colors and artwork while also being a cover art for a magazine I think really draws in an audience that would appreciate that blend.

    ReplyDelete

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