BA ILLUSTRATION STAGE ONE UNIT 1 Written ASSIGNMENT Part IV

Part IV: Critical analysis

Idea of modernism:

From the previous studies, I’ve summarized the characteristics of modernistic illustration into the below characteristics:

1. less is more

2. illustrative type arrangement

3. experimental tools and method

4. purposely abstract image

5. tools used in the design reflects the mood and manner in the image

1. variating mode of practice
2. Color order (reading path)

Base on the above 7 rules, we’ll see the whether the chosen examples conform with the idea of modernism.

As I mentioned many times, the modernist always have experiment on the tools they use to create work. However, will it be a form of stereotypical practice if they keep on repeat some kind of “new tools” ? For example, the practice of san-serif letters. From the above examples, we can see all the types are all san-serif. However, does san-serif types means modernism? Obvious not.  It depends on whether there’s a need for san-serif letters. As san-serif letters are also very effective symbols. It can give you about the tone, and the time of the idea that is being visualize.

‘The visual statement...which seeks to express the essence of an idea, and which is based on function, fantasy, and analytic judgement, is likely to be not only unique but meaningful and memorable as well.’ (Paul Rand, 1947, p.36)

Moreover, is the illustrative type arrangement may not be a way to represent modernism. If the legibility and readability is ignored, the integration with type and illustration will become useless. The target of effective and prompt communication is failed. If this target is failed, the type visual will become an over-decorated image which blocks people to understand. In this sense, it will be similar to black letters, which has high aesthetic value, but low communication value. The poster by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (3) may not be a good way of communication as the letters are compressed and it will take the readers to catch the word. However it follows the form of a racing track, which can lead people to read along. This act secures the reader to read the visual as well as the words.

“originality” depends on the successful integration of the symbol as a visual entity with all other elements, pointed to a particular problem, performing a specific function consistent with its form.(Paul Rand, 1947, p.46)

Besides this, the Poster by Herbert Bayer (2) may falsify that abstract form is a must in modernism. In Bayer’s poster, he used very realistic style of illustration instead of simplified symbols or forms. He cared fully create an image which is alike what we see. However it doesn’t mean that he failed to be a part of modernism art. When we pay attention to the composition of the poster, we can see the objects are all pointing at the word ‘bauhaus’, which forms a confrontation composition. In this way, our eyes will automatically look at ‘bauhaus’ at the first sight.

If we move to the airline poster designed by Cassandre (5), we will discover that he used over 10 colors in the poster. In this sense, we can argue that it may not perfectly conform with the idea of modernism as it can have more space for simplification. If we only keep the silhouette of the characters and their color, we can still tell what the characters are. As these images are all famous features of those countries. We can automatically traced back what do they refer to.