"Fall Splendor” at International Poster Gallery

Nov. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- BOSTON – International Poster Gallery celebrates the bounty of the fall season with an exciting exhibition titled "Fall Splendor,” which features more than 50 original vintage posters, all newly acquired by the gallery.  The exhibition runs from November 1st through Thanksgiving weekend, 2010 and is free and open to the public.  Gallery hours are Mon. through Sat.10 am to 6 pm and Sun. noon to 6 pm.  The Gallery is located at 205 Newbury Street in Boston.  Call (617) 375-0076 or visit www.internationalposter.com for information.

Highlighting the exhibition is a 1924 French poster for fine retailers Martin & Company.  The poster, designed by an anonymous artist, perfectly embodies the fall season.  The design features a Roaring Twenties flapper wrapped in a decadent fur coat, her pose framed by falling orange leaves caught in the wind.  A nearly barren tree displays the last vestiges of fall foliage, urging the consumer to prepare for the coming winter with a warm and luxurious coat.

Walter Schnackenberg’s 1922 design for a performance of the Beauty and the Beast ballet is also featured in the exhibition.  Schnackenberg produced few posters during his career, but collectors avidly seek out his rare design masterpieces.  This example comes from a 43-plate portfolio of his finest costume, poster and theatre designs.  Known by many collectors as the “Toulouse-Lautrec of Germany”, Schnackenberg’s works portray a decadent and stylish world, influenced by the prevalent styles of expressionist pre- and post-WWI Munich.

Also included among this unique lineup of new acquisitions is a poster by Georges Hamel for the Monaco Grand Prix.  Hamel, who signed his works “Geo Ham”, created his first poster for the event in 1933 and continued through 1937, the last race before a 10-year hiatus


surrounding the war years.  This 1936 poster features a red Alfa Romeo in hot pursuit of a German-made Auto Union racer skidding through a hairpin turn.  Hamel’s design was prophetic, as that year’s race did indeed come down to the German and Italian contenders, with the latter ultimately taking the checkered flag.

The gallery has also recently acquired one of Donald Brun’s "Object Poster" masterpieces, an advertisement he created for Bata, a Switzerland-based shoe company.  This advertisement for a sneaker boasts eye-popping realism, vibrant colors and an unusual composition built on diagonals.  A cartoon grasshopper in the foreground lends a touch of whimsy to the poster, which is widely recognized as a Post-WWII classic.

“We are constantly seeking out rare and beautiful vintage posters to add to our ever-expanding collection,” states gallery owner Jim Lapides.  “ Recently, our travels uncovered a treasure trove of masterpieces, and we’re delighted to offer them both in the gallery and online through our robust website.”

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About International Poster Gallery

In addition to gallery shows and special exhibitions, IPG’s award-winning website, www.internationalposter.com, offers the largest, most comprehensive online collection of vintage advertising posters in the world. Launched in 1998, the site now contains nearly 4,500 images accessible through a powerful search engine.