Winter sales Poster (1921)
This poster was commissioned by the Underground Electric Railway Company in 1921. It was designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer and captures the dynamics of a crowd heading through the London rain towards the winter sales.
The bold shapes and blocks of flat colour suggest the influence of traditional Japanese woodcuts. The abstract swirl of a coat tail in the wind and the shards of rain that slice diagonally through the composition recall Kauffer's brief association with Vorticism. The image is heavily stylised and demonstrates Kauffer's move towards abstraction. Scattered umbrellas present the only clearly identifiable elements of the composition.
The umbrella was used in numerous London Underground posters, particularly in the 1920s. As well as presenting a metaphor for the Underground as a refuge from the English climate, the umbrella's pleasing symmetry lent itself perfectly to the bold geometric style of the time.
In stock
£15.00
SKU
23443
Edward McKnight Kauffer was undoubtedly one of the most prolific and influential graphic designers of the 20th. At the outbreak of the First World War, Kauffer moved from Paris to London where he gained his first commissions from the Underground. During the next 25 years Kauffer also worked for Shell, the Great Western Railway, the Empire Marketing Board and the Post Office. His designs ranged from book jackets and illustrations to stage sets and textiles, but it is for his London Transport posters that he will always be remembered.
| Brand | London Transport Museum |
|---|---|
| SKU | 23443 |
| Colour | Cream |
| Poster Theme | Events |
| Transport Mode | Underground |
| Artist | Edward McKnight Kauffer |
| Themes | Art & Design |
| Orientation | Portrait |
| artist | Edward McKnight Kauffer |
| Size | 23 X 35 inches (59 X 89 cm) approximately |
| Credit | Underground Electric Railway Company Ltd |
| Date | 1921 |
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