Hair 1979

This is a promotional image, a poster, that Robert Peak painted to advertise the film 'Hair.' You can see the artist's hand in the airbrushed, softened edges of the figures as they seem to dance off the canvas. The brushstrokes have an ethereal, dreamy quality, especially in the trails that follow the woman on the right. I imagine Peak must have been thinking about movement and freedom when making this. The hair itself becomes a kind of flowing energy, a release. Looking at this poster makes me think about the history of commercial art and illustration, and how artists like Peak were able to bring painterly qualities to advertising. There's something so optimistic and celebratory about the colors and the composition. Ultimately, it is a joyous invitation to a shared experience.