Skip to main content
E
elin37091693
Participant
October 29, 2017
Question

Fonts used in 1930s WPA posters?

  • October 29, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 4245 views

Hi, any ideas on what fonts or similar looking fonts are used in this poster? Especially the blue cursive one. Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
October 29, 2017

Almost certainly these were not fonts if it's an actual 1930s poster. Fonts in the 1930s were blocks of metal for typesetting, and it's unlikely an artist would have had the tech to use them in artistic type. Certainly the tech didn't exist to skew fonts, and nobody would have made them as skewed blocks. These were the work of a skilled artist, it seems to me, perhaps inspired by a type book. In. On more complex work, an artist, a colourist, and a letterer worked as a team. These were lifetime professions with years of work behind them. We've lost a lot.

    E
    elin37091693Author
    Participant
    October 29, 2017

    Thanks! I knew this was not from the 1930s, but it's really interesting to hear how far technique and technology has come since then. I'm still on the hunt for a script font without a skew to it that looks like its from that era. Way harder than I thought!

    Ray Yorkshire
    Ray Yorkshire
    Participating Frequently
    October 29, 2017

    The American Royal - Excitement by SUPER - Dribbble

    Dribbble - Show and tell for designers

    E
    elin37091693Author
    Participant
    October 29, 2017

    Thanks! But could you point me to a similar font?

    Mylenium
    Mylenium
    Legend
    October 29, 2017

    I'm sure if you took the time to scour the collections at MyFonts.com and similar sites you could find a modernist art deco font easily, though of course it may not necessarily be a perfect match.

    Mylenium

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices