''Great Expectations'', 1946 - art by Anselmo Ballester
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Great Expectations'', 1946 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''Great Expectations'', a British film adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel of the same name, directed by David Lean and released in 1946. This black-and-white film is widely regarded as one of the greatest literary adaptations in cinematic history and is known for its atmospheric cinematography and strong performances.
The movie tells the story of a young orphan named Pip (played by John Mills as the young Pip and Anthony Wager as the child Pip) who encounters a mysterious escaped convict named Magwitch (played by Finlay Currie) in a graveyard on the foggy marshes near his home. This chance meeting sets in motion a series of events that will change Pip's life forever.
Pip's life takes an unexpected turn when he is invited to the grand estate of the reclusive and eccentric Miss Havisham (played by Martita Hunt), where he meets her beautiful but cold-hearted ward, Estella (played by Jean Simmons). Pip falls in love with Estella and becomes ashamed of his humble origins. He yearns to become a gentleman, and his dreams seem to come true when he is granted a mysterious benefactor who provides him with the means to move to London and pursue an education.
As Pip grows older (now played by John Mills as the adult Pip), he navigates the complexities of high society in London and becomes entangled in the lives of various characters, including the wealthy but enigmatic Bentley Drummle (played by Alec Guinness) and his best friend, Herbert Pocket (played by Bernard Miles). Throughout his journey, Pip discovers the true identity of his benefactor, the source of his "great expectations," and the consequences of his choices.
David Lean's direction in "Great Expectations" is notable for its moody and atmospheric cinematography, which effectively captures the dark and mysterious elements of Dickens' novel. The film also features strong performances from its cast, particularly John Mills as Pip and Martita Hunt as the haunting Miss Havisham.
"Great Expectations" is celebrated for its faithful adaptation of Dickens' novel, bringing the themes of class, love, and ambition to life on the screen. The film received critical acclaim upon its release and has since become a classic in the realm of literary adaptations, cementing its place in cinematic history.
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
January 21st, 2022
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