I distinctly recall this style of retro art in the Sixties and Seventies although I don't know what to call it.
Victorian? Georgian?
You'll know what I mean when you see it. Often found in Mackintosh sweet tins like Quality Street. In fact Quality Street maybe its gold standard as a style. There's dashing captains, bonneted ladies and fine horses.
The style may have influenced the more surreal art seen here on this old Board Game, again a style I can't name at all.
It reminds me of Terry Gilliam's stuff for Monty Python.
Have any of you got any idea about these styles?
Not sure of the specific style here, though I see the similarities between each. The joyful colours increase their appeal! Long ago, sitting in horrible mathematics class, I had a geometry set contained in a tin with very similar art style to these; depicting gardens and buildings of Oxford (as it was called an ‘Oxford Geometry Set’). Spent many hours escaping to those illustrated grounds.
ReplyDeleteI had that very same Oxford set Charles. I think they still make them!
DeleteI'd say the Quality Street is a flat cartoon style, without black outline, depicting the regency period, which could extend into early Victoria, while the Australian game is late psychedelia/early glam-rock, and more 'after' Heinz Edelmann than Gilliam, although Gilliam used such stuff (from the Sunday Supplements?) for his animations?
ReplyDeleteInsightful Hugh. Thanks. Regency eh.
DeleteAs far as identifying graphic art styles, Mr. Google is again your friend! This website does a good job of the 50s with links to the 70s and 80s -if you can stomach all the in-page ads!
ReplyDeletehttps://design.tutsplus.com/articles/50s-graphic-design-mid-century-modern-to-swiss-style--cms-38521
Here's a 60s art style page, but I feel that Quality Street art is looking backwards rather than forwards!
https://creativemarket.com/blog/60s-graphic-designs#:~:text=The%201960s%2C%20though%2C%20was%20a,used%20by%20many%20iconic%20artists.
Interesting sites Looey. I love the Beatles Yellow Submarine and the Blue Meanies! What a great cartoon style that was.
DeleteQuality Street took their name from a late 19th century (I think) play by J. M. Barrie, better known as the author of Peter Pan. The figures are in a sort of Regency/early 19th century dress, but with a 1950s or 1960s style, I would suggest.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andy. J.M. Barrie eh. Two simple words that are world famous!
Deletethe second one is riffing off that sixties style that was so prevalent such as the Beatles yellow Submarine and the Crunchie Taste Bomb campaign - https://www.flickr.com/photos/31558613@N00/albums/72157627253380544/
ReplyDeleteNever seen those taste bomb posters before Wote. Fascinating.
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