Written Assignment

Putting something into context is explaining the circumstances surrounding the subject. For instances, the context of someone wearing shorts and a T-shirt is generally that they are in a warm place, like on holiday.

The piece I have chosen to analyse is a print of a packet of cigarettes by A.M Cassandre. The print is of and Art Deco style and only contains 5 simple colours. The piece is a birds-eye view of a packet of cigarettes with 3 more raised than the rest as if they have been pulled out. This creates the impression that the advert is offering you one. The word 'Cigarettes' is in grey at the top of the piece and 'Golden Cup' in red at the bottom. The font is bold, a fairly plain. Typically of the Art Deco movement. 

Art Deco is an art movement, particularly associated with France. The movement has several origins. The oldest of which is the Ancient Egyptians. Other influences on the movement include cubism, which is evident mostly in the fonts used in Art Deco pieces. The style isn't just in pieces of art work, its also a design, often interior design. 

The piece is very neat and precise, which leads me to believe it is a print and not a painting. It looks as though it has been done on a computer its that well crafted. But computers weren't around back the, in the 1920's. The piece was originally an advertisement  and is similar to other paper-based adverts of its day.

The artwork connotates glamour and style.The advert indicates that the cigarettes were probably expensive back then. Cassandre obviously created the piece in order to sell the cigarettes so he had to make them appealing. Cigarettes are no longer allowed to be advertised, but I think the dateless style of this advert would still fit in with contemporary adverts today. 

The piece was made in 1925. The 1920's were known as the' Roaring Twenties' as the UK and US found themselves in an economic boom following WW1. There was also a rise in Fascism due the rise in Socialism in places like Russia. The prosperity of the 1920's reached a devastating halt due to 'The Wall Street Crash' of October 1929. The Art Deco movement certainly reflects the affluence of the '20's with its artistic undertones.

The artwork I have chosen demonstrates wealth and looks like its been created using expensive equipment due to how perfect it looks. Its expensive enough just to put out an advert, and a lot of products can't afford to do so. So I think that the fact that the piece is an advert itself shows that the brand is very well off, mirroring the economy at that time.