The Noose
Batiste Madalena
American, 1902–1988
c. 1928
A tempera-on-poster-board advertising poster in which the artist stylizes a brooding male screen star to promote the 1928 film The Noose.
What hits you first is the monumental, blue-tinted close-up—sharp, painterly highlights and deep shadow carve the face, set against a halo-like ring and contrasted with punchy yellow title lettering and the small exclamation “Thrilling!” at the top.
This work shows how late-1920s painted film posters blended portraiture and graphic design to manufacture star appeal and helped define modern cinematic publicity and celebrity imagery.
Medium
Tempera on poster board
Dimensions
Overall: 43 1/2 x 24 3/4" (110.5 x 62.9 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Courtesy of Judith and Steven Katten
Accession
F1926
Palette
Exhibitions
