Jean Carlu

Jean Carlu ( May 3, 1900 in Bonnières -sur -Seine, France; † in Nogent -sur -Marne 1997) was a French graphic artist specializing in poster art.

He was a member of a family of architects; his brother Jacques Carlu for example designed the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. During World War II, Jean Carlu designed state propaganda posters to promote the increase of American manufacturing. Jean Carlu originally wanted to be an architect, but finished his training already started, after he got in an accident his right arm.

Life and work

Jean Carlu began his career as a professional poster artist and graphic designer in 1919, after he had won a competition for toothpaste advertising firm " Glycodont " 1918. From 1919 to 1921 worked as an illustrator for an advertising agency. During this time he designed his first poster in the Art Deco style (for example, for the film " The Kid" by Charlie Chaplin ). His poster later also showed hints of Cubism and the influence of the works of Juan Gris and Albert Gleizes.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Jean Carlu is regarded as the leading figure of the French poster art. In 1937 he was chairman of the Department of Graphic advertising the World Exhibition in Paris. He came in 1941 in the United States for an exhibition at the New York World's Fair to organize for France. He remained occupied in the U.S. as Paris by the German Wehrmacht. During his time in the U.S., he designed one of his most famous posters - " America 's Answer Production" With this poster, he won a New York Art Directors medal as well as the award for " Poster of the Year " He also works for the Container Corporation of America and. . Pan American World Airways. in 1953 he returned to France and continued his work as a poster designer and advertising consultant for many companies, including companies such as Air France and Firestone or brands such as Chateau Mouton -Rothschild in France continued. he was president of the Alliance graphique Internationale AGI 1945-1956. in 1964 he was invited to documenta III ( in the Department of graphics ) to Kassel. in 1974 Jean Carlu put into retirement.

Literature and sources

• Documenta III. International Exhibition; Catalogue: Volume 1: Paintings and Sculpture; Volume 2: Hand drawings; Industrial design, graphic; Kassel / Cologne 1964