Poster art is the permanent object of discussion for artists, designers, critics, and simply different people all over the world. The history of poster art goes back to 1980s, when the first technologies of mass printing appeared in Europe. Since that time the poster is becoming more and more popular and keeps on attracting attention not only of passers-by but also businessmen, politicians, promoters, music and movie stars and many other people who could potentially use posters for their professional, business and other purposes. So what is a poster and why poster art is considered to be a kind of art at all? According to the most wide and general definition each poster is just a piece of printed paper that can be attached to various vertical surfaces, usually to walls. Posters may differ greatly in their size, colors and of course in their content ranging from movie and band posters to vintage and retro posters. They should not only catch our attention when we see it, but the main purpose of any poster is to transmit some information message. That is why most posters combine and use both graphical and textual elements, though sometimes only one of these elements can be used by a poster designer.
Jules Cheret and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec are considered to be "fathers" of the world of poster art, both of them contributed greatly to the popularity and promotion of this new art. Jules Cheret focused his attention mostly on advertising aspect and purpose of posters. Bright colors and striking characters such as for example provocative feminine characters were his main techniques used for poster design. His posters were very expressive due to the best contemporary technical and art novelties he applied. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created posters in a more elegant and subtle manner, he knew the best artists of those times. Anyway, many artists at different periods of their life turned to poster art for earning money, for improving their artistic skills and for many other reasons.
As it was mentioned before, posters as well as poster art can be used for different purposes. Some of them are designed to make us pay attention to certain events, others attract our attention to some personalities, goods, products, etc. in other words they have advertising mission. Some posters are printed for protest or propaganda of something. Sometimes posters can be just cheap reproductions of real masterpieces of art, but comparing to originals their price makes them more affordable for people. And of course poster art is often used for various educational purposes.
Looking through the history of poster arts one can trace various periods and styles of art such as, for example, Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Art Deco, etc. Good collections of so called "vintage" posters have a very high value and represent a dream for many collectors of art works and posters all the world around. Actually, collecting of posters and especially of vintage posters requires specific mentioning as it is a rather interesting, specific and sometimes very rewarding hobby, some of posters are real masterpieces and do have a great artistic and financial or material value. Many fans of poster art and poster collecting sell and purchase posters, share information about them, even arrange "virtual" exhibitions and auctions via the Internet, at numerous sites, forums, blogs dedicated to poster art, art hobbies, etc. One can find there many rare, exclusive and even unique posters that can't be found anywhere else. One can also find lots of articles and information about poster preservation on the Internet because most of vintage posters made of usual paper are quite fragile and require specific care. So, collectors usually frame them, cover them with glass, different foams, lacquers and other solutions that help to provide a good protection, prevent fading, in other words to prolong a comparatively short life of posters. Some people collecting pieces of posters even have their private restoration studios where it is possible to apply the most recent and the most effective technologies such as acid washing, encapsulation and some other to bring posters back to life and to make them as beautiful as they used to be many many years ago.
Nowadays there are many private firms and companies that provide different services concerning poster production, poster design, etc. You can order posters to advertise your business, for instance, besides it is possible to use not the design of a poster offered to you by a designer but to offer your own design and they will create and manufacture posters right according to your style or preferences. The amount of posters that can be produced is not a problem at all.
You can also use the services of online shops to choose posters of your favorite pop singer or movie star. Be it Lady Gaga posters or Angelina Jolie posters, for example, they will inspire you and brighten your life. People are always captivated by beautiful things, why not buy Lady Gaga poster, if she is your embodiment of beauty, talent and freedom? Posters can help to create unusual atmosphere of your residence, they are reflection of your personality, your preferences and inner world. |