Born in Bonnières, France, Jean Carlu came from a family of architects and studied to enter that profession. After an accident at the age of eighteen in which he lost his right arm, Carlu turned to graphic design. His early work reveals a fascination with the angular forms and spatial nuances of Cubism.
As Carlu's work evolved over the next two decades, it continued to show a concern with the geometric shapes of Cubism, but this was manifested in very different ways. Carlu sought to create a symbolic language in which color, line, and content would represent emotional values. His work thus achieved a distinctive, streamlined economy of form, rarely incorporating narrative or illustrative elements.
Carlu spent the years of World War II in the United States, where he executed a number of important poster designs for the government's war effort. Characterized by the same scientific precision of form as his other work, these designs were well suited to the promotion of industrial efficiency. Both American and international design traditions continue to reflect his influence.
This is part 2 of a 2-part post on the woks of Jean Carlu:
1941 Give 'em Both Barrels
offset lithograph 39 x 50.8 cm
MoMA, New York1941 America open your eyes!
lithograph published in Fortune magazine 34.3 x 26.6 cm1941 Repaying Nature's Riches, from the Early Series
gouache on paperboard 56.7 x 50.5 cm
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC1942 America's answer! Production
offset lithograph 76.2 x 101.6 cm
MoMA, New York1942 In One Organisation, from the Early Series
gouache on paperboard 50.1 x 42.6 cm
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC1942 Gift Packages for Hitler! from the Early Series
gouache and gelatin silver print collage on paper 73.3 x 50.8 cm
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DCc1945 Entre le Marteau.. et L'Enclume
(Between the Hammer and the Anvil)
lithograph 134.6 x 92.7 cm 1947 Stop 'Em to Sell 'Em, Subway Posters
lithograph 114.9 x 73.7 cm
MoMA, New York1949 To Paris: Pan American World Airways
lithograph 109.5 x 71 cm1949 Now Direct Clipper Flights to Gateway to the Riviera
Pan American World Airways
lithograph 42 x 30 cm1949 Fly to Europe
Pan American World Airlines
lithograph 106.6 x 70.5 cmc1950 offrez un livre de la collection Larousse
(offer a book from the Larousse collection)
lithograph 49.5 x 36 cm
c1950 Larousse cadeaux pour tous
(Larousse presents for all)
lithograph 50 x 36 cmc1950 India: Air France
lithograph 100.3 x 60.9 cm1950 Le Sirop des Vosges
(Vosges Syrup)
lithograph 158.1 x 119.4 cm1950 Scandinavia: Pan American World AirWays
lithograph 101 x 70 cm1950 Pschitt! Perrier
lithograph 120 x 159 cm1950 Cinzano ...Toujours Favori
(Cinzano ...Always favourite)
lithograph 160 x 117 cm1952 l'eau qui fait pschitt... gazeuse naturelle
(water that goes pschitt... naturally sparkling)
lithograph 128 x 91 cm1952 Fly by Clipper to Australia and New Zealand
(by Jean Carlu & Fred Dubois)
lithograph 106.7 x 70.5 cmc1954 Pschitt orange! Pschitt citron!
lithograph 34.5 x 26 cm1954 Portugal and Spain by Clipper
Pan American World Airways
lithograph 107.9 x 71.1 cm1954 Foire de Paris
(Paris Fair)
lithograph 160 x 118 cm1954 Caribbean by Clipper
Pan American World Airways
lithograph 106.6 x 71.1 cm1956 musée des arts décoratifs
art ancien du pérou
lithograph 63 x 46 cm1956 Air France far-east
lithograph 99 x 62.2 cm1956 Afrique: Air France
lithograph 99 x 61.4 cm1957 Air France: Europe
lithograph 100 x 62 cm1958 Air France: France
lithograph 100 x 62 cm1958 Air France: a la pointe du progrès
(at the cutting edge of progress)
lithograph 100 x 61 cmc1960 Haute Volya: Air Afrique
lithograph 100 x 62.5 cmn.d. Larousse (encyclopaedias)
offrez les Beaux Volumes
(offer Beautiful Volumes)
lithograph 159 x 117 cmn.d. Dentifrices Gellé Freres
lithograph 80 x 53.3 cmn.d. Birds Custard
lithographn.d. Bijou Fix: Mon Armure est en Or
(Jewel Fix; My Armour is Gold)
lithograph 50 x 35 cmn.d. Au Bon Marché
lithograph 27.5 x 21.5 cm
