Max Ersnt

Max Ersnt was a surrealist and dadaist. Among his works The Elephant Celebes is probably my favorite. It is playful and inviting as well as enigmatic. It is credited as being the first surrealist piece in many circles. Enrst is also known for his glass scultptured chess board "immortel".

James Montgomery Flagg was an Illustrator who was famous for his drawing of the "I Want You" poster featuring Uncls Sam pointing his finger at the viewer. Flagg did a lot of work on propaganda posters for the war effort as well as cartoons for magazines and newspapers. His work is interesting becasue it iconographic. It depicts a nation buried in the mire of it's own self image. His use of muted colors in this particular piece The Shrine, "Lucius Leaps Over" (1926) is inteeresting as well his use of paneling to show different points in the story( much like the popular comics of the day).

jonathan Hoefler

Jonathan Hoefler

Jonathan Hoefler is a designer based in the United States he has designed for rolling Stone Harper's Bazaar and even one of my personal faves They might Be Giants.

I enjoy thee designs by Hoefler because of their use of fluid line while still maintaining simple readability.

stefan Sagemaister

Stefan Sagemeister

Here are a couple of older pieces by New York designer Stefan Sagemeister. He is an intense designer who went so far as to have the words carved into his skin. He demonstrates a severe loyalty to artistic integrity.

I like both of these pieces very much as well as a lot of his other work. The Lou Reed is something I have seen around for years being a big V. U. fan. The words adhering to the contour of his face are a great idea. The skin reminds of another artist who (embarrassingly enough) I can't remember the name of who shot himself in protest of the Vietnam War. The emphasis of the words is delivered through the violence of the act.

Joseph Muller Brockman

swiss designer Joseph Muller Brockman did this dairy poster in 1959. I am truly fond of the use of diagonals in the text layout. I also enjoy the dot printing (lichtenstein/ comic style) of the image of the cow. The image is not overstated and yet it is very powerful.

Saul Bass did this movie poster for Otto Preminger in 1957.

the tiled background appeals to me as does the look of the half torn weatherbeaten figure of Joan of Arc. The centered point of interest is strange when you think of the implied upper torso that is not present it gives a subliminal balance to the viewer. I am also a fan of the warm tones which i associate with the passion of the movie's main character.