Soaring to Success, The Early Bird 1918

Edward McKnight Kauffer’s poster “Soaring to Success, The Early Bird” uses graphic shapes to create something bold and bright. The artist has used a yellow ground with graphic motifs floating above, like starlings taking flight. I can imagine Kauffer playing with shapes on paper, trying out different arrangements, and using a limited palette of black, grey, and yellow to create something eye-catching. The flattened forms of the birds suggest movement and rhythm and the planes of colour evoke a sense of depth and energy. I wonder if Kauffer looked at Italian futurism or cubism, or whether they were simply trying to find the best way to communicate a message quickly and effectively. There is something exciting about artists borrowing ideas from each other - it's like they're having a conversation across time and space. It's a reminder that art is always evolving, always changing.