The Mummy – Entertainment Weekly 2020

Robert Sammelin created this illustration, The Mummy – Entertainment Weekly, sometime in the 20th century, using digital painting techniques. It seems to have emerged through a series of decisions – layering one color over another. I find myself wondering what Sammelin was thinking when he was working on this. Was he trying to mimic the experience of seeing an old movie poster? I love the high contrast, the electric blue and orange, and the feeling of pulp fiction. Sammelin seems to have drawn inspiration from old lithographic printing processes. The flat areas of color and distinct outlines create depth and volume. And just look at that group of scarabs, those tiny little brushstrokes at the bottom of the image, and the screaming Mummy at the top! Ultimately, Sammelin's painting is a reminder that artists are always in conversation with one another, borrowing and building upon the ideas of those who came before. It shows how even a small gesture can communicate feeling, intention, and meaning.