''Of Human Bondage'', 1934 - art by Anselmo Ballester
by Movie World Posters
Title
''Of Human Bondage'', 1934 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster of ''Of Human Bondage'',a 1934 film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel of the same name, directed by John Cromwell and starring Leslie Howard and Bette Davis. This movie is a notable classic in the drama genre and is remembered for its poignant exploration of human relationships, obsession, and personal growth.
The film tells the story of Philip Carey, played by Leslie Howard, a sensitive and intellectually inclined young man who aspires to be an artist. However, due to a clubfoot, he faces physical limitations that hinder his dreams. Philip becomes infatuated with a cold and manipulative waitress named Mildred Rogers, portrayed by Bette Davis. Despite her cruelty and mistreatment of him, he becomes hopelessly obsessed with her and enters into a destructive and tumultuous relationship.
"Of Human Bondage" explores themes of unrequited love, self-destructive behavior, and the ways in which individuals can become emotionally ensnared by unhealthy attachments. The film showcases Philip's journey from his initial infatuation with Mildred to his gradual realization of the toxic nature of their relationship and his efforts to break free from her emotional grip.
Bette Davis's performance as Mildred Rogers is particularly memorable, and it is considered one of the defining roles of her career. Her portrayal of the complex and manipulative character earned her critical acclaim and helped establish her as a major Hollywood star.
The film's title, "Of Human Bondage," reflects the emotional and psychological chains that characters like Philip and Mildred find themselves in, as they grapple with their own flaws and weaknesses. It is a powerful exploration of human vulnerability, the search for identity, and the impact of toxic relationships on personal growth.
"Of Human Bondage" is a classic example of early 1930s melodrama and showcases the talents of its lead actors. It remains an enduring and influential work in the realm of classic Hollywood cinema, known for its emotional depth and the compelling performances of its cast.
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.
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January 20th, 2022
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