Washington, American Airlines 1950

This is 'Washington, American Airlines', a poster by Edward McKnight Kauffer. I can imagine Kauffer carefully planning the composition of this picture. He’s probably thinking a lot about geometric forms and how they interact to create a sense of depth and space. Look at how he’s juxtaposed the solid white Capitol building against the dark blue sky. The building looks so solid. What kind of mind sees things in this way? I can imagine him mixing his inks, choosing just the right shade of blue for the night sky and the precise tone of white for the building. See how he uses those small, stylized stars to create a sense of depth and movement? It feels like he’s trying to capture the energy and excitement of air travel with a feeling for classical ideals. Painters like Kauffer are always in dialogue with the past, but they're also pushing the boundaries of what painting can be, reinventing it for their own time.