''City Girl'', 1930 - art by Anselmo Ballester is a mixed media by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on July 5th, 2021.
''City Girl'', 1930 - art by Anselmo Ballester
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''City Girl'', a 1930 silent film directed by F.W. Murnau, one of the most acclaimed directors of the silent era.... more
Title
''City Girl'', 1930 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Photograph
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''City Girl'', a 1930 silent film directed by F.W. Murnau, one of the most acclaimed directors of the silent era. The film is known for its lyrical and atmospheric cinematography and its exploration of themes related to rural life and urbanization. Here's a description of the movie:
Plot:
"City Girl" tells the story of a young man named Lem, portrayed by Charles Farrell, who leaves the bustling city of Chicago to work on a wheat farm in the American Midwest. Lem arrives in the countryside with the hope of helping his family by earning money through farm labor during the summer harvest season.
On the farm, Lem meets and falls in love with Kate, played by Mary Duncan, the daughter of the wheat farmer. Their romance blossoms amidst the picturesque rural landscapes. However, their relationship faces challenges due to the harsh realities of farm life, including the disapproval of Kate's father and the temptation of the city, represented by Lem's memories of Chicago.
As Lem and Kate navigate the complexities of love, family, and rural life, "City Girl" explores themes of innocence, disillusionment, and the contrast between urban and rural worlds.
Key Elements:
Silent Film: "City Girl" is a silent film, relying on visual storytelling and expressive cinematography to convey its narrative and emotions.
F.W. Murnau's Direction: Directed by F.W. Murnau, known for his pioneering work in silent cinema, the film showcases his talent for creating visually striking and emotionally resonant scenes.
Lyrical Cinematography: The movie is celebrated for its beautiful cinematography, capturing the beauty of the American countryside and its contrast with the urban setting.
Rural vs. Urban: "City Girl" explores the clash between rural and urban lifestyles, highlighting the allure and challenges of both worlds.
Romantic Drama: At its core, the film is a romantic drama that delves into the complexities of love and relationships.
"City Girl" is regarded as one of F.W. Murnau's lesser-known masterpieces but is praised for its poetic and visually stunning portrayal of rural life and the emotional journey of its characters. The film's themes of innocence and disillusionment, as well as its exploration of the rural-urban divide, continue to resonate with audiences interested in the silent film era and classic cinema.
About the artist:
Anselmo Ballester (1897–1974) was a noted Italian painter and film poster designer from Rome. He was the son of Federico Ballester (Rome, 1868–1926), a painter of Spanish origins. Inspired by his father's artistic endeavors growing up, Anselmo completed his first works at 15.
After attending the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, he specialized in film advertising for the most important silent film production houses. He created posters and other advertising material for CINES, Caesar Film, and numerous other studios.
In his studio in Rome, via della Croce 50a (then via della Passeggiata Ripetta 19), he spent almost 50 years creating thousands of sketches for playbills and paintings for film posters. He went on to form the design company BCM along with two other prominent Italian poster artists, Alfredo Capitani and Luigi Martinati
The movie posters Ballester created between the 1930s and 1950s showcased his unique painting style using tempera medium and bold colors. They typically featured one or two significant characters. His style is reminiscent of pulp fiction covers and, like the best cinema advertisements, were infused with intrigue, conflict, and passion. His works were uncomplicated yet rich in detail, a techniqe and style he himself describes:
"To become a creator of film posters ... it is necessary to study passionately, always to draw and paint everything from the truth. Then you can let your imagination run free. Whether you are creating a work of art, or a more humble advertising poster, you must be able to attract the interest of the public, to satisfy both the most refined people and the roughest, who are the majority."
From a stylistic and compositional point of view, Alfredo Ballester began by drawing inspiration from the advertising posters of Art Nouveau, and then he defined his personal code. The painter exhibited a common layout in his movie posters: the actor or actress beautifully portrayed in the foreground, and one or two scenes from the film in the background.
To achieve this result, he used a methodical technique, making numerous sketches of the project only after having the best two selected by the client, he devoted himself to the final painting, strictly handmade.
Ballester's color palette, however, was his greatest talent. The artist used colors expressively, as a tool to convey emotions. The portraits of the stars were extremely realistic but often colored with unnatural hues such as pinks or intense light blues. Ballester illustrated his characters with colors capable of conveying the range of feelings transmitted by the film.
He was written about in "Anselmo Ballester: the Origins of the Film Poster," published by the University of Parma, Study Center and Communication Archive in 1981. In addition, Dave Kerr made extensive use of his images in his 2003 book, "Italian Film Posters, "published by The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Permanent collections of his work are displayed at the University of Parma, Communication Studies Center and Archive (CSAC) and the Cinema Museum in Brush, Montecosaro.
To see more of his posters search by his last name.
Uploaded
July 5th, 2021
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