''Against the Law'' - 1950 - art by Anselmo Ballester
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Against the Law'' - 1950 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Photograph
Description
A vintage movie poster of ''"Contro la legge,"', also known as "Against the Law" in English, is an Italian crime drama film directed by Flavio Calzavara and released in 1950. The film is set in post-World War II Italy and is part of the Italian neorealism film movement, known for its focus on portraying the lives of ordinary people in a realistic and often gritty manner.
The plot of "Contro la legge" revolves around a group of young delinquents who are struggling to survive in the tough streets of Rome. They become involved in criminal activities and face various challenges as they navigate the harsh realities of their environment. The film portrays the social and economic struggles of the characters and their attempts to escape a life of crime.
One of the central characters is a young boy named Pasquale, played by Franco Interlenghi, who becomes caught up in this world of delinquency. The film explores the factors that lead young people into a life of crime and the difficulties they face in breaking free from it.
"Contro la legge" is notable for its realistic and gritty portrayal of post-war Italy and the social issues of the time. It is often considered a significant work within the Italian neorealism movement for its depiction of the struggles of ordinary people and its focus on social commentary.
While "Contro la legge" may not be as widely known internationally as some other Italian neorealist films, it remains a notable contribution to the genre and provides insight into the post-war social and economic challenges faced by many Italians during that era.
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
August 1st, 2021
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