Power of the Poster

Book excerpt: From its 19th-century beginnings to sophisticated modern developments, the poster has not only been a powerful communications tool but has also reflected and shaped society. This fascinating account of the evolution of the poster reproduces 250 of the best examples of poster art from around the world. The book is divided into three sections, which look at the poster as a political statement, as a tool of advertising and consumerism, and as a work of art in its own right. Also discussed are graphic vocabulary, design, methods of production, and usage. Among the works featured are the fin-de-siecle masterpieces of Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha; psychedelic posters of the 1960s; propaganda posters from the United States, Russia, Germany, Eastern Europe, and China; and iconic commercial posters for Levis, Haagen-Dazs, Wonderbra, and many others. Capturing the essence of their time, these posters speak out again in this colorful collection.