Week 12- Visual Techniques

poster for the Moulin Rouge by Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

Irregularity
Fragmentation
Exaggeration
Spontaneity
Boldness
Activeness
Accent
Distortion
Juxtaposition

modern poster for the film "Moulin Rouge" by KO Creative

Balance
Symmetry
Unity
Stasis
Boldness
Accent
Diffusion

The first image is a poster created by Toulouse Lautrec to promote the Moulin Rouge nightclub. It is one of my favorite examples of visual design because it is all at once simple, entertaining, creative, and informative. The writing is irregular, with differences in scale making it dynamic. The figures in the image are fragmented, with different colors used. The colors are bold, and the female performed is accented. She is juxtaposed with the distorted man in the foreground and the exaggerated crowd in the background. The overall effect is of movement, business; there is a lot going on, and the poster is meant to make the viewer want to join in. The more modern poster, on the other hand, gives a sense of magic and mystery. It is perfectly balanced in positions and coloring. It is symmetrical, and the two figures appear as one. There is not much movement in the image; the dynamics comes from the boldness and accent of the colors and visual effects. The color is accentuated by the appearance of diffused lighting. Of course, Lautrec didn't have these effects in his day, but his poster was scandalous and exciting for the time period.