''Mildred Pierce'', 1945 - art by Anselmo Ballester is a mixed media by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on May 27th, 2021.
''Mildred Pierce'', 1945 - art by Anselmo Ballester
A vintage Italian movie poster reprint of ''Mildred Pierce'' a classic film noir drama released in 1945, directed by Michael Curtiz. The film stars... more
Title
''Mildred Pierce'', 1945 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Posters
Description
A vintage Italian movie poster reprint of ''Mildred Pierce'' a classic film noir drama released in 1945, directed by Michael Curtiz. The film stars Joan Crawford in the title role and features a compelling storyline set against the backdrop of post-World War II Southern California.
The story revolves around Mildred Pierce, a determined and resilient woman who is struggling to provide a better life for her two daughters, Veda and Kay. Mildred's marriage has fallen apart, and she finds herself in the position of having to support her family on her own. She starts working as a waitress and eventually opens her own successful restaurant business.
However, Mildred's relentless pursuit of success and financial stability becomes entangled with her complicated and toxic relationship with her daughter, Veda. Veda is portrayed as a manipulative and opportunistic character who constantly belittles her mother and seeks to climb the social ladder at any cost. The film explores themes of mother-daughter dynamics, class aspirations, and the sacrifices one is willing to make for their family.
Joan Crawford's performance as Mildred Pierce earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, and it remains one of the most iconic roles of her career. The film also features strong supporting performances, including Ann Blyth as Veda, and Eve Arden as Ida, a witty friend of Mildred.
"Mildred Pierce" is notable for its atmospheric and dark cinematography, capturing the noir aesthetic of the time. Michael Curtiz's direction and the screenplay adaptation of James M. Cain's novel provide a gripping and suspenseful narrative that keeps viewers engaged throughout.
The film is celebrated for its portrayal of complex female characters and its exploration of the darker aspects of family relationships and ambition. "Mildred Pierce" is a timeless classic in the film noir genre and remains a significant entry in the history of American cinema.
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
May 27th, 2021
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