Norman… Is That You 1976

Robert McGinnis made this poster, Norman… Is That You, using bright blocks of color and gestural strokes. The artwork depicts a multitude of figures, including the central character Norman, who is surrounded by various other characters in scenes that suggest a comedic narrative. I can imagine McGinnis, standing at his easel, carefully mixing his colors. The scene is busy, it’s trying to say so much all at once. I see the figures, they’re rendered with smooth, controlled brushstrokes. And I get the sense of an artist trying to balance the need for detail with the desire for simplicity. The color palette is bold, which only adds to the visual noise. It makes me think about other artists working in this era, and how they were similarly experimenting with how to best capture the spirit of the times, using bright colors, and depicting lively and fast moving scenes. McGinnis invites us into his world, a world that celebrates the power of images, and that leaves plenty of space for interpretation.