Erik's Graphic Art History: Art Deco and War Posters

Cubism continued its influence into the 1920’s and 30’s becoming what is today known as art deco. During the time period in between World War I and World War II traveling was being majorly promoted across America and Europe. Many graphic designers of the time used art deco to create posters for railways and the London Underground, as well as cruise lines and travel poster by plane. Three designers of the time really stood out to me and I found myself being captivated by their artwork: Kauffer, Carlu, and Cooper.
Edward McKnight Kauffer lived a troubled childhood that led to him traveling to the Art Institute in Chicago and then eventually to Europe to study graphic design. In 1913 while studying in Chicago a New York Times article forced Kauffer to rethink his time at the Art Institute, which resulted in his decision to move to London where he designed many war posters. His Poster Daily Herold poster is credited to be flawed in the text, however his graphic is so inspirational it caught the attention of Winston Churchill who contracted him to design the emblem for the Royal Flying Crops. Aldous Huxley responded to Kauffer’s designs that they contradict many graphic designs of the time that carry into today’s modern advertisements flaunting money and sex as a means to grab attention. I find this to be extremely refreshing and a great tool for a designer to be able to use in their work.

Like Kauffer Jean Carlu also had a hard early life. At age eighteen he fell under a trolley car which severed his arm and forced him to learn to draw with his left arm. This proved to be a great challenge that he quickly overcame as World War I approached and he gave up his dream of architecture to apply his visual communicative skills to designing War propaganda for his France. The science mentality he had for architecture helped him to develop his designs in the art deco style. He used sharp and rigid lines to indicate tension and alertness but used curves and soft edges as breathing space signifying relaxation.

In England during this time Austin Cooper continued the tradition of art deco after using collage designs to ignite emotional attachment and memories by compiling different cutouts of landmarks. In 1924 Cooper shifted completely into art deco by designing completely in geometric shapes and color to help further develop communication posters for the London Underground.