Artwork
Modern Prints Selected from Recent Acquisitions of the Department of Prints and Drawings
Modern Prints Selected from Recent Acquisitions of the Department of Prints and Drawings is a poster by Peter Branfield. It dates from 1970 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
It’s not a painting but a simple, bold design meant to look like a real road map.
This poster shows a black-and-white maze of empty roads at night. The lines are sharp and white, cutting through dark pavement. In the distance, a small white dome glows faintly against the horizon.
The poster was made for a 1971 museum show called *Modern Prints*. It’s not a painting but a simple, bold design meant to look like a real road map.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more prints like this.
Overview
This poster, created in 1970 by Peter Branfield, promotes the *Modern Prints Selected from Recent Acquisitions of the Department of Prints and Drawings* exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which ran from January 14 to April 4, 1971.
Subject & Meaning
The design features a stylized, black-and-white nighttime scene of intersecting roads, with a faintly glowing white dome in the distance. Despite resembling a map, it is an abstracted representation rather than a literal geographic depiction.
Technique & Style
The poster is an offset lithograph, characterized by sharp, white lines contrasting with dark tones, resulting in a bold and simple yet effective design.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1970 for the aforementioned exhibition, the poster is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's holdings, specifically highlighting recent acquisitions by the Department of Prints and Drawings at the time.
Context
The poster reflects the museum's effort to showcase contemporary printmaking techniques and acquisitions of the early 1970s, appealing to audiences interested in modern graphic design and print art.
Legacy
As a promotional piece for a specific exhibition, its legacy lies in representing the Victoria and Albert Museum's curatorial focus on modern prints during the early 1970s, rather than as a standalone work of art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Branfield had a habit of turning plain paper into posters that startled you.
