THE ART OF THE POSTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 69

THE ART OF THE POSTER.

- By Constance Cl-yde, (For Otago Witness.) In the great world of art the poster now takes a recognised place, and it is no longer a disgrace to be ideal on behalf of somebody's bread or another person's magic toric. Ihe poster artist take himself seriously these days. He h/vs even discovered that be belongs to quite an antique institution, for the ruins of Pompeii have shown some attempts at pictorial advertisement, though nothing equal to the poster art of to-day ".What catches the public eye most of all?"' I ask of a well-known 'follower of the profession. " Nothing so good as the female figure," he answers readily enough ; " and nothing^ in my opinion, comes even second to it. 'Men going home from business like to see a pretty face upon the hoardings and women are caught by the hat "or skirt, and think they will get something like it. Yes, we certainly try to please the women most of all. They are' less in the streets, it is true, but they ar© 'the purchasers for the family, and therefore their tastes and prejudices must be considered. The male figure as a, rule is not very successful in poster art, a striking instance to. the contrary being of course the ' Sunny Jim ' . series of pictures. But these succeeded purely through their humo-ur. " No, animals are not very favourite -> subjects, though the amateur artist is inclined to think otherwise. When some fame was gained by a poster depicting two cats discussing a favourite brand of milk the company in question*, was simply inundated with cat pictures sent by inspired beginners. 'Though it should have been clear," remarked the manager, ' that- a firm do not particularly want their milk associated with cats, but rather with cows and dairrymaids.' " Great is the talk' in posterland when any departure is made :n the style of their art. "It is not enough to make the public laugh; the question is, Does the laugh atorays sell the stuff?" It was a pertinent remark. As- an instance he mentioned one picture which, ihoivjh it would occasion a smile, would ra+h?r°tc-nd to create a prejudice against the food than otherwise. "In tits long run it is safer and better to paint a pretty picture than a. merely funny one." There is an increase of women of late in the world of poster art. As roga'ds ideas and drawing they quite equal °thriv male rivals; bivt to be sure of iacc-ss it is necessary for the poster artiot to supervise personally the reproduction part j of the business; and to ihis mcc'iunlcal j portion of the work woman seem to have a- rooted objection. It is not generally known that xhfca is a censer for posters* as well as for plays, while it is a curious fact that artists are not allowed to depict many of the scenes that are actually performed on the stage. It is considered tLat such posters hare a more bi'ulalising effect on tlie L,o<uciin-»s than en the boards themselves. °

A fad that is fast dying owt !s (lie poster collecting. Very few continue it fo: many months, as one needs considerable house-room to keep even a moderate toi lection. Again, the natural desire i; to keep a poster that- has a history alt.i-hv-l fc? it rather than, one which' is beautiful in

itself. A scandal about a hoarding picture such as occurred when the Glasgow authorities refused Leighton's " Psyche ' a pldcb on the hoardings makes a collector eno<eavour by hook or by crook to :iJd it to his gallery.