It's impossible not to leaf through Modern British Posters without experiencing a wistful longing for times past. For despite the vicissitudes of the eras represented, one thing was remarkably constant; the sheer brilliance of public art and design.
Paul Rennie is an expert and dealer in the objects, artwork and ephemera of this golden age of British design. His new monograph brings together the many and various aspects of the British poster, the application of pure graphic art or delightful illustration to such ends as public information, education and entertainment.
The big players in this happy collision of aesthetic ambition and raw talent are well known; London Transport, Shell, the Post Office, and the government itself, all working alongside artists like Paul Nash, Graham Sutherland, Manfreid Reiss, and many, many more. The resulting outpouring of graphic art shaped a generation's visual sensibilities, as well as an ongoing lament for its apparent passing.
We love a poster as much as the next publication, and the internet has seen a resurgence of interest in both these originals and the art of publicity art. But until an enlightened official body picks up the baton and ushers in a new era of public graphic art, Rennie's excellent retrospective will have to suffice.
’Rye Marshes’, Paul Nash, 1932, 30 x 45", Shell Mex & BP. (p63)
’Explorers Prefer Shell’, Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1934, 30 x 45", Shell Mex & BP. (p81)
’Footballers Prefer Shell’, Paul Nash, 1932, 30 x 45", Shell Mex & BP. (p88)
’Prevent Falls’, Tom Eckersley, 1940s, DC (30 x 20"), The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. (p105)
’Wear Goggles’, Tom Eckersley, 1940s, DC (30 x 20"), The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. (p105)
’Examine Ladders’, Tom Eckersley, 1940s, DC (30 x 20"), The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. (p105)
’Stow Tools Safely’, Tom Eckersley, 1940s, DC (30 x 20"), The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. (p105)
-
The Bombardier Global 8000 flies faster and higher to make the most of your time in the airA wellness machine with wings: Bombardier’s new Global 8000 isn’t quite a spa in the sky, but the Canadian manufacturer reckons its flagship business jet will give your health a boost
-
A former fisherman’s cottage in Brittany is transformed by a new timber extensionParis-based architects A-platz have woven new elements into the stone fabric of this traditional Breton cottage
-
New York's members-only boom shows no sign of stopping – and it's about to get even more nicheFrom bathing clubs to listening bars, gatekeeping is back in a big way. Here's what's driving the wave of exclusivity
-
Inside the seductive and mischievous relationship between Paul Thek and Peter HujarUntil now, little has been known about the deep friendship between artist Thek and photographer Hujar, something set to change with the release of their previously unpublished letters and photographs
-
Nadia Lee Cohen distils a distant American memory into an unflinching new photo book‘Holy Ohio’ documents the British photographer and filmmaker’s personal journey as she reconnects with distant family and her earliest American memories
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekThe rain is falling, the nights are closing in, and it’s still a bit too early to get excited for Christmas, but this week, the Wallpaper* team brought warmth to the gloom with cosy interiors, good books, and a Hebridean dram
-
Inside Davé, Polaroids from a little-known Paris hotspot where the A-list playedChinese restaurant Davé drew in A-list celebrities for three decades. What happened behind closed doors? A new book of Polaroids looks back
-
Inside the process of creating the one-of-a-kind book edition gifted to the Booker Prize shortlisted authorsFor over 30 years each work on the Booker Prize shortlist are assigned an artisan bookbinder to produce a one-off edition for the author. We meet one of the artists behind this year’s creations
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekThis week, the Wallpaper* editors curated a diverse mix of experiences, from meeting diamond entrepreneurs and exploring perfume exhibitions to indulging in the the spectacle of a Middle Eastern Christmas
-
14 of the best new books for music buffsFrom music-making tech to NME cover stars, portable turntables and the story behind industry legends – new books about the culture and craft of recorded sound
-
Jamel Shabazz’s photographs are a love letter to Prospect ParkIn a new book, ‘Prospect Park: Photographs of a Brooklyn Oasis, 1980 to 2025’, Jamel Shabazz discovers a warmer side of human nature
