''The Burning Soil'', 1922 - art by Josef Fenneker
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Burning Soil'', 1922 - art by Josef Fenneker
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage German movie poster of ''The Burning Soil'', 1922 (German: "Der brennende Acker"), released in 1922, is a silent drama film directed by F.W. Murnau, a prominent figure in German Expressionist cinema. The film is known for its atmospheric visual style, characteristic of Murnau's work, and its exploration of themes such as family conflict, greed, and the destructive power of ambition.
The story revolves around a rural family and a piece of land rich with oil. The patriarch of the family, deeply connected to the land, wishes to keep it untouched. However, his son, driven by greed and ambition, becomes obsessed with the wealth that the oil beneath the land promises. This obsession leads to a tragic conflict within the family, underscoring the film's central theme of how greed can corrupt and destroy.
Murnau's direction is noteworthy for its use of symbolic imagery and innovative camera techniques, which were advanced for its time. These techniques contribute to the film's moody and expressive atmosphere, making it a significant work in the silent film era and an important precursor to later cinematic developments.
"The Burning Soil" is often appreciated for its visual storytelling and the way it captures the intense emotions and moral dilemmas of its characters, making it a notable example of early 20th-century German cinema.
About the artist:
The posters of graphic artist and painter Josef Fenneker impress with their dark, mysterious and fascinating atmospheres. Stylistically, they embody the unusual and elegant forms of Art Nouveau and the intense emotional energy of the Expressionist painting. His characters, often haunting and spectral female figures, stand out against dark black or blue backgrounds. They are characterized by livid and gloomy tones. The restlessness of 1920s Berlin and the Weimer Republic shines through Fenneker's artworks.
The artist masterfully used the technique of color lithography, thus preferring the medium of printmaking. Lithography was a tradition in German culture. It allowed great expressive possibilities, enhancing contrasts and the sharpness of outlines. While the German printers in that period who were able to keep a colored image bright and distinct within a solid dark ink background were considered the world's most skilled.
Josef Fenneker (1895–1956) was born in Bocholt, Germany and went on to become a noted German painter and graphic artist, designing over 300 movie posters. His recognizable style drew mainly on German Expressionism with a flair for aesthetic decadence.
After studying in Münster, Düsseldorf, and Munich, Fenneker moved to Berlin, where he studied graphic arts and book art at the teaching institute of the Kunstgewerbemuseum. He was a master student of Emil Orlik during his studies there.
At the beginning of his career, Fenneker primarily focused on commercial graphics. However, after 1918, he began designing film posters for major Berlin premiere theaters. His unique style quickly earned him notoriety among the industry. Dr. Siegbert Goldschmitt, director of the distinguished Marmorhaus film theater, commissioned Fenneker to design for many of his theater’s exhibited films.
By age 30, Fenneker had already painted and designed over 250 works. Like many other European poster artists, he created original paintings instead of using photographs, stating, "No photo can show the 'excessive drama' of the cinema; only the drawn and painted illustration can do that."
Fenneker's influences included Expressionism, Cubism and Futurism, Art Deco, and Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). His expressionistic style earned him a position as one of the most important representatives of artistic film posters of the 1910s and 1920s.
Search "Fenneker" to see more of his art.
Uploaded
January 21st, 2022
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