People are sometimes dismissive of posters, maybe it’s the dorm-room association, or the idea that they’re just advertising or propaganda, or perhaps that they’re just cheesy, which many are. But posters–when done well–convey volumes about lots of stuff; history, politics, art, style, war, peace, ideas, desires, fashion, the zeitgeist. They can tell you, in one frame, what it would take many pages of text to explain. They’re also a (more) affordable way to collect limited edition art, and unlike a Damien Hirst, a poster won’t make your house smell of rotten beef after a few months.
For a quick tutorial on posters, look no further than the International Poster Gallery. It features A Brief History of the Poster plus style, country and subject primers. Check out the examples below and visit the site for more.
However there’s just one oversight–no mention of the fantastic work of Poland’s poster artists. So please visit polishposter.com; in particular the posters for American movies, which use original illustration, way more effective than standard Hollywood photo-montagey fare. Examples below-enjoy!
