''The Red Shoes'', 1948 - art by Anselmo Ballester is a mixed media by Movie World Posters which was uploaded on June 7th, 2021.
''The Red Shoes'', 1948 - art by Anselmo Ballester
A vintage movie poster of ''The Red Shoes'', a 1948 British-American romantic drama film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It is... more
Title
''The Red Shoes'', 1948 - art by Anselmo Ballester
Artist
Movie World Posters
Medium
Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Posters
Description
A vintage movie poster of ''The Red Shoes'', a 1948 British-American romantic drama film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It is widely regarded as a classic of cinema and is celebrated for its stunning visuals, intricate storytelling, and memorable dance sequences. Here's a description of the movie:
Plot:
"The Red Shoes" tells the story of Victoria Page, portrayed by Moira Shearer, a young and talented ballet dancer who becomes the rising star of the Ballet Lermontov, a prestigious dance company led by the enigmatic and demanding Boris Lermontov, played by Anton Walbrook. As Victoria's talent blossoms, she catches the eye of the company's composer, Julian Craster, portrayed by Marius Goring.
The film explores the passionate and complex relationships between the characters, particularly the love triangle involving Victoria, Boris, and Julian. Victoria's devotion to her art and her desire for personal happiness become central themes as she faces the conflict between love and her career.
"The Red Shoes" is renowned for its visually stunning and technically innovative dance sequences, including the titular ballet, "The Red Shoes," which becomes a pivotal moment in the film. The dance sequences are choreographed by renowned dancer and choreographer Sir Robert Helpmann.
Key Elements:
Visual Splendor: "The Red Shoes" is celebrated for its lush and vibrant Technicolor cinematography, which enhances the film's beauty and storytelling.
Dance and Artistry: Dance is a central theme of the film, and it features intricate and visually captivating ballet performances that are integral to the narrative.
Love and Artistic Ambition: The film explores the tension between personal love and artistic ambition, as Victoria grapples with her passion for dance and her love for Julian.
Memorable Performances: Moira Shearer's portrayal of Victoria Page and Anton Walbrook's portrayal of Boris Lermontov are standout performances that contribute to the film's emotional depth.
Creative Collaboration: "The Red Shoes" is a product of the collaboration between director Michael Powell, writer Emeric Pressburger, composer Brian Easdale, and choreographer Robert Helpmann, resulting in a harmonious blend of storytelling, music, and dance.
"The Red Shoes" is not only a visually sumptuous film but also a profound exploration of the sacrifices and passions of artists. It has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema and remains a beloved classic for its artistic achievements and emotional resonance.
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
June 7th, 2021