DOI issue:
No. 262 (January 1915)
DOI article:Yockney, Alfred: Some recent London posters
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21211#0293
Recent London Posters
in more serious vein, as in the set of posters referring recently has been the triple picture under a single
to Greater London routes, his originality tells, cornice of lettering announcing " Drake" at His
Then there is Mr. Fred Taylor, who has done Majesty's Theatre. The centre was by Mr. Morrow
sorhe excellent work for other railways, notably his and the sides were by Mr. Norman Wilkinson.
Victoria Station (L. B. & S. C. Ry.). He gives Among other decorations easily recalled are the
an impression of a scene which is vivid, decorative colossal ones produced for a weekly paper. A
and pleasant in colour. We know less in this few months ago the hoarding round the old
branch of art of Mr. Macdonald Gill, an architect, General Post Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand was
but his burlesque map of London was so remark- covered by a continuous procession of eminent
able a success in its own particular way, that we people in every walk of life marching to the
await its successor. At first sight it is a striking inscription " Everybody's reading it." This
pattern resembling the old topographical maps, panorama fascinated all comers not only by its
showing parcels of land and picturesque houses daring originality but by sheer magnitude and the
here and there. On closer inspection it is seen repetition of its message. Such examples come,
to be packed with pleasantries, some of which can strictly speaking, under the heading of painted
be distinguished even in the greatly reduced illus- posters, like the movable pictures instituted by
tration on page 281. The eight posters designed Messrs. Pears.
by members of the Senefelder Club, one of which, It has often occurred to those who study the
by Mr. Brangwyn, is now reproduced, formed a interior furnishing of modern public buildings that
new departure in artistic advertising, as did the more use might be made of marquetry and allied
clever and effective silhouettes by Mr. H. L. Oakley, work for decorative purposes. Panelling there is
of which three are shown among our
illustrations.
Shipping posters, though they have
engaged the attention of such artists as
Mr. Wyllie, Mr. Brangwyn, Mr. Cecil
King, Mr. Charles Dixon and others, are
as often as not coloured illustrations on
a large scale of typical liners in harbour
and therefore have limitations as regards
effective design. One of the exceptions
to this principle was the sheet showing
the Dublin-Holyhead boat in transit
across the Irish Sea. It was by Mr.
Norman Wilkinson, and was so good as
a marine picture, apart from its use as a
poster, that many people obtained copies,
cut off the lettering from the top and the
bottom, and framed the rest. This pro-
duction, minus the wording, has been
sanctioned by the London County
Council for exhibition in schools, a fact
which may be mentioned as a tribute not
only to the work of the artist but to the
printer.
The theatrical poster, as noted earlier
in this article, is sometimes a lurid pro-
duction, but not always. Some of the
best designs on the hoardings during the
last decade have been inspired by forth-
coming plays and pantomimes. The
names of Mr. Hassall and Mr. Buchel
at once occur to mind. One of the
design for shipping poster BY e. a. cox. carried out in
most imposing features of the hoardings wood by a. j. rowley (the rowley gallery)
290
in more serious vein, as in the set of posters referring recently has been the triple picture under a single
to Greater London routes, his originality tells, cornice of lettering announcing " Drake" at His
Then there is Mr. Fred Taylor, who has done Majesty's Theatre. The centre was by Mr. Morrow
sorhe excellent work for other railways, notably his and the sides were by Mr. Norman Wilkinson.
Victoria Station (L. B. & S. C. Ry.). He gives Among other decorations easily recalled are the
an impression of a scene which is vivid, decorative colossal ones produced for a weekly paper. A
and pleasant in colour. We know less in this few months ago the hoarding round the old
branch of art of Mr. Macdonald Gill, an architect, General Post Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand was
but his burlesque map of London was so remark- covered by a continuous procession of eminent
able a success in its own particular way, that we people in every walk of life marching to the
await its successor. At first sight it is a striking inscription " Everybody's reading it." This
pattern resembling the old topographical maps, panorama fascinated all comers not only by its
showing parcels of land and picturesque houses daring originality but by sheer magnitude and the
here and there. On closer inspection it is seen repetition of its message. Such examples come,
to be packed with pleasantries, some of which can strictly speaking, under the heading of painted
be distinguished even in the greatly reduced illus- posters, like the movable pictures instituted by
tration on page 281. The eight posters designed Messrs. Pears.
by members of the Senefelder Club, one of which, It has often occurred to those who study the
by Mr. Brangwyn, is now reproduced, formed a interior furnishing of modern public buildings that
new departure in artistic advertising, as did the more use might be made of marquetry and allied
clever and effective silhouettes by Mr. H. L. Oakley, work for decorative purposes. Panelling there is
of which three are shown among our
illustrations.
Shipping posters, though they have
engaged the attention of such artists as
Mr. Wyllie, Mr. Brangwyn, Mr. Cecil
King, Mr. Charles Dixon and others, are
as often as not coloured illustrations on
a large scale of typical liners in harbour
and therefore have limitations as regards
effective design. One of the exceptions
to this principle was the sheet showing
the Dublin-Holyhead boat in transit
across the Irish Sea. It was by Mr.
Norman Wilkinson, and was so good as
a marine picture, apart from its use as a
poster, that many people obtained copies,
cut off the lettering from the top and the
bottom, and framed the rest. This pro-
duction, minus the wording, has been
sanctioned by the London County
Council for exhibition in schools, a fact
which may be mentioned as a tribute not
only to the work of the artist but to the
printer.
The theatrical poster, as noted earlier
in this article, is sometimes a lurid pro-
duction, but not always. Some of the
best designs on the hoardings during the
last decade have been inspired by forth-
coming plays and pantomimes. The
names of Mr. Hassall and Mr. Buchel
at once occur to mind. One of the
design for shipping poster BY e. a. cox. carried out in
most imposing features of the hoardings wood by a. j. rowley (the rowley gallery)
290