COMMENTS TO MY PAGE "ART POSTCARDS WITH A RAILWAY MOTIVE"
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British Industries
Not only is this British Industries Steel poster a striking piece of artwork; it’s a significant piece of railway history. It was part of a groundbreaking initiative in 1924, spearheaded by Norman Wilkinson. Wilkinson, a visionary advertising expert, believed that renowned artists could elevate the railway poster medium. He commissioned sixteen posters from Royal Academy members, including Jack, marking a shift towards showcasing industries served by the railways – a departure from the traditional focus on scenic landscapes. As Wilkinson himself stated, “Beauty of another kind is to be seen in the great industries of the north.” This poster offered passengers a glimpse into the very lifeblood of the railway – the industrial powerhouses it connected. The first posters from this initiative began to appear in 1924. The posters were G Clausen’s depiction of coal mining, Cayley Robinson’s image of workers in a cotton mill and the British Industries Steel poster on this listing, which was created by Richard Jack, highlighting the steel industry. These posters broke new ground for the railway poster. Richard Jack’s British Industries Steel poster exemplifies this new direction. The artist has transported us to the railway sidings of a steelworks near Motherwell in Scotland. Standing across a network of railway tracks, we are met with the awe-inspiring spectacle of the steelworks at dusk. The scene is dominated by a dozen or so towering chimneys, their silhouettes stark against a vibrant evening sky ablaze with fiery hues. This juxtaposition of industrial might and natural beauty is a signature of Jack’s work, imbuing the poster with a sense of power and dynamism. The text beneath Jack’s dynamic image is succinct. It reads British Industries. Steel. Beneath the image, the letters “LMS” (London, Midland & Scottish Railway) are accompanied by the company roundel.
March 8th 2025
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