''The Red Dance'', 1928 - art by Dolly Rudeman
by Movie World Posters
Title
''The Red Dance'', 1928 - art by Dolly Rudeman
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Poster
Description
A vintage Dutch movie poster of ''The Red Dance'', a silent film from 1928 that stars Dolores del Río, who was a prominent actress during the early days of Hollywood. The film was directed by Raoul Walsh and produced by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, which later became Paramount Pictures.
Set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, "The Red Dance" is a historical drama that explores the tumultuous events of the time. Dolores del Río plays Tasia, a Russian peasant girl who becomes caught up in the political and social upheaval of the era. As the Bolshevik Revolution sweeps across the country, Tasia finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her growing attraction to a Russian nobleman, played by Charles Farrell. The film delves into the themes of love, class struggle, and the impact of revolutionary change on individuals and society.
"The Red Dance" is notable for its lavish production design, capturing the grandeur of pre-revolutionary Russia and the chaos of the revolution itself. The film also features impressive costume design and cinematography, showcasing the visual style of the late silent film era.
While "The Red Dance" is not as well-remembered today as some other silent films of the period, it is still an interesting historical artifact and a showcase for the talent of Dolores del Río, who was one of the era's leading actresses. It reflects the fascination of Hollywood at the time with stories set against the backdrop of major historical events, and it provides a glimpse into the filmmaking techniques and storytelling conventions of the late 1920s.
About the artist:
Dolly Rudeman (1902-1980) was a Dutch graphic designer and the only woman in the Netherlands to design film posters in the 1920s. She produced posters for many famous directors and film stars, including Sergei Eisenstein, Charlie Chaplin, and Greta Garbo.
Rudeman is the queen of movie poster design of the 1920s, the only woman in a male-dominated world. The Dutch artist offered the public infinite shades of femininity through the faces and glances of great actresses. In her artworks, there is no longer merely the sensual beauty highlighted by her other illustrious colleagues, but also the strength, the icy and melancholic gaze, the rebellious and determined attitude of the women of her era.
Her style is bold, austere, almost futuristic. She uses geometric shapes and a black and decisive stroke. The color palette is limited to red backgrounds, white, with female faces in the foreground. Looking at her movie posters, it seems to be in front of the Art Deco work of the painter Tamara de Lempicka, for the same clear use of lines and bright colors. In the art of Dolly Rudeman, there is the reflection of all the modernity of the 20s, the unconventionality of female emancipation at the dawn of time.
Rudeman was born in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) to Dutch parents. Her father died before she was born. Her mother took the family back to the Netherlands when Rudeman was a teenager.
Rudeman studied art at the Hague Drawing Institute after her move to the Netherlands. Then, starting in the 1920s, she worked for the Netherlands Cinema Trust. Her poster for Charlie Chaplin's film, The Circus, became the first to win the Dutch government's official seal of approval. By 1932, she had designed more than 150 posters and 70 programs.
Rudeman learned to work quickly on her poster art, typically producing two or three posters per week. Unfortunately, she seldom had time to see the films she illustrated since her posters needed to be displayed before the movie appeared in theaters. However, she was able to create artwork using a selection of photos of the stars and a script of the scene to be illustrated.
In the early 1930s, she produced special assignments and exhibited as a solo artist and in group shows. She expanded her career in design but, concerned about her financial security as an artist, began designing film posters.
Rudeman's work impacted the national press. She became known for her bold, futuristic style, both austere and dynamic. Her employers and the public alike appreciated her work, considering it in tune with the modernity of the 1920s. Her work was recognized for having at least three main identifying features: good taste, a feel for color, and originality.
Unfortunately, work became scarce during the Second World War. With minimal income, she nonetheless was able to aid Jews hiding during the Nazi occupation. After the war ended in 1945, she returned to designing posters.
In the 1950s, she expanded into other design forms such as postcards, chocolate boxes, and ceramics. However, she never regained her pre-war fame and died in relative obscurity in Amsterdam in 1980. As a result, most of her work is lost, save for tracings of some 120 posters dating from 1926 to 1935.
Search "Rudeman" to see her other art.
Uploaded
January 24th, 2022
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