EPPH - Every Painter Paints Himself

Good Goal: Study Design

Once in a while I try to remind myself to study good graphic design because, while illustration is not art, it uses the same techniques more openly. Illustration's purpose is not to hide meaning that most people will misconstrue as in art but to convey a message with skillful efficiency to everyone. At left a Spanish illustrator, Michael Allocca, has produced football (soccer) cards of Spanish heroes in precisely the same way that a follower of Robert Campin used the straw firescreen behind the Virgin Mary in the 15th century. The painting is in London's National Gallery. Just as the medieval artist positions a household object behind the Virgin’s head to recall a halo, Allocca covers his players from behind with a football (soccer ball). To ensure no-one misses his allusion Allocca playfully styles his on stained glass with the halo-ball in the colors of the national flag. To be honest, Campin’s allusion is pretty obvious too, long recognized for what it is by art historians. Nevertheless, as regular readers know, many similar visual puns are well hidden in art, parsed only by those who know what to look for. Those who are new should make it their own goal.

Some of the kick in looking at good illustration is the speed and simplicity with which it conveys multiple meanings; part of the joy in looking at art is the sudden-ness with which new meaning arises after long contemplation. So, in some ways, art and illustration are polar opposites; in others, they look very similar like players on the same team. One is an artist; the other an artisan.

 

Note: For those interested, Allocca’s cards are in an exhibition, Football. Faith, Love, Hope, at Museum für Geschichte / Barfüsserkirche in Basel, Switzerland until 16th August, 2015