Original Artists' Posters

Original artists’ posters occupy an important position within art history. These aren’t the cheap, mass-produced images we used to buy from music shops and pin to the bedroom wall. They’re rare, meticulously produced collaborations between great artists and gifted assistants that pushed the limits of design and technical expertise.
Original artists' posters sit at the intersection between fine art, graphic design and pop culture. The 20th century's greatest artists poured their heart and soul into these posters, collaborating with leading print workshops to create something visually stunning that leapt out at the viewer in a crowded street. They were designed to look good, and they still set the heart racing decades after they were made.
These pieces are like time capsules from the most exciting moments in the history of Modern art.
For some artists, designing a poster for an upcoming show was the gateway to a lifelong passion for printmaking. Initially sceptical of lithography as a printing medium, Matisse was finally persuaded to produce a poster featuring his 1935 painting La Rêve for a major exhibition in Paris. Created at the legendary Atelier Mourlot, he was so dazzled by the result that he became a zealous convert, ultimately going on to produce more than three hundred original lithographs before his death. He even persuaded Picasso to take up the medium. Posters are often intimately linked with the development of an artist’s career. They’re far more than just publicity material.
For all their illustrious pedigree, finding original posters in good condition can be difficult. After all, they were only intended to have a short lifespan. Once the exhibition had finished, they were expected to be torn down and discarded. Only a few far-sighted individuals thought to preserve their copy, ensuring that these objects are not only beautiful, but strikingly rare. They’re survivors from a vibrant, pre-digital world that has largely disappeared, but their appeal and impact remain as strong as ever.
Best of all, original posters represent exceptional value.

They feature an artist’s most iconic imagery, demonstrate impeccable design instincts, and they all tend to be quite large. With original posters, your money goes a very long way.
- Pablo Picasso, L'Atelier Mourlot - Le Corsaire, 1949/84
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