A few notable Hungarian painters turned to commercial art in the first half of the twentieth century to help pay bills. Most of the projects Hungarian artists completed were unspectacular, but a few stand out and have become masterpieces in the their own right. A good example Róbert Berényi's 1929 poster for Modiano cigarette rolling papers.
Known most for introducing his own particular form of expressionism and cubism into the Hungarian art scene, Berényi succeeded in crafting an enticing and memorable commercial image using only a few elementary shapes and five basic colors. In my humble opinion, this is one of those cases in which 'art' transcended 'commerce.' Though I am sure the image inspired many to purchase Modiano rolling papers, I get the feeling it likely inspired more to want to buy the poster itself. I also think the image would also make a great cover for a novel.
Known most for introducing his own particular form of expressionism and cubism into the Hungarian art scene, Berényi succeeded in crafting an enticing and memorable commercial image using only a few elementary shapes and five basic colors. In my humble opinion, this is one of those cases in which 'art' transcended 'commerce.' Though I am sure the image inspired many to purchase Modiano rolling papers, I get the feeling it likely inspired more to want to buy the poster itself. I also think the image would also make a great cover for a novel.
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