Art Poster

“Design is the method of putting form and content together. Design, just as art, has multiple definitions; there is no single definition. Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated”

                                                                                                                                        — Paul Rand   

Graphic Design is a combination of Text and images. It has 3 different purposes:- persuasion (propaganda), information (signs) and instruction. Graphic Design became widely used after WWII.

                                                            

Jules Cheret, El Dorado, 1894

In this blog, I’m about to tackle the transformation of the Art Poster over the years. A poster includes an expression of economical, social & cultural life.  They started as a mass production and show famous artworks at a very low price, compared to the original artwork. Ability to combine text and illustrations which finally made lithographic posters reduced. Jules Cheret, Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, Jacques Villon were the exponents of the poster till the 1890’s. Jules Cheret, the father of the poster, was also a massive contributor to the world of advertising. He developed the famous process named “three stone process”, where the rainbow colours can be achieved through the primary colours, the main characteristics of his posters were a feminine figure, drawn lettering and very bold with a cartoonish touch. When the French Art Nouveau started, Alphonse Mucha, simplified Cheret’s style. His posters were more colorful  with a bold outline, animated with most of them including a female figure with a stained glass background. Art Nouveau, in Italy was known as the Liberty style. Cappieldo’s work, influenced from Cheret & Lautrec took over other artists work. He used a lot of dark backgrounds to create a strong contrast with the use of complimentary colours. Aubrey Beardsley composed black and white illustrations, conveying a great contrast. He also used flat perspective in his work. The figures were influenced from the Japanese graphic art. Will Bradley took over Beardsley, when he passed away. He combined Art Nouveau with Medieval and Renaissance art. His work in children’s illustrations and paintings was fascinating. The Wiener Workstation workshop, aimed for quality improvements. It brought various artists and designers together. The main characteristics are the breaking down of objects to simple shapes and the use of geometric patterns with minimum decorations. The Beggarstaff brothers formed an innovative style but wasn't popular. Simplified shapes, few strong colours, less lettering & hand drawn. Bernhard Lucian took their idea and managed to popularize it. He then became the master of Plakastil, which is the simplification and definition of objects with flat colours. Advertising posters include only images of the object being advertised.

                                                         Lucian Bernhard

                                                                 

Some of Peter Behrens's posters

From a floral, Japanese prints, Egyptian style to a more serious, refined version of Art Nouveau, Art Deco. The main characteristics of Art Deco are futurism, cubism, constructivism, neo-classicism, abstraction to modern artists such as Hoffman and Frank Lloyd Wright.  Peter Behrens is known as the founder of modern design which is linked with Jugendstil (a style similar to art Nouveau). In his posters he is not only taking care of the product, but viewing it as a whole entity, from introduction till the end. The beginning of constructivism started with a highly contrasted geometric composition. The Futuristic movement in Italy was rejecting harmony and order but expressing speed and movement. Their arrangements created a transformation from the traditional typography to new forms and design. Their font types weren't linear, and most of the forms didn't make any sense but created a sense of expression. DADA’s aim was to destroy the traditional art and create a new one, without following any known rules. Subverting images to collages, photo montages, extremes which made them use ready made objects. Hannah Hoch was one of the most aesthetically gifted collagists of the Dadaists. 

Hannah Hoch, Cut with the Dada Kitchen Knife through
 the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultura
l Epoch in Germany, 1919

        

     

 Sources

Timetoast, 2012, History of Graphic Design

Available at:- http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/53704 (accessed on 13.11.2012)

Edward Booth-Clibborn & Daniele Baroni, Thames & Hudson, 1980, The language of Graphic Design