The History of Magazines and Posters

MAGAZINES

Erbauliche Monaths Unterredungen - 1663

• A German publication, with the title reading ‘Edifying Monthly Discussions’ in English. The magazine had an intellectual target audience and was published between the years of 1663 and 1668. The publication was written mainly by one author.

Le Mercure Galant - 1672

• This French magazine consisted of various articles focusing on different topics by a variety of authors. French author Jean Donneau de Vize created the magazine, which focused on court events, theater and literature. The layout of this magazine was copied throughout Europe.

The Ladies Mercury - 1693

• Created by The Athenian Society, this was the first periodical designed solely for a female audience.

The Gentleman’s Magazine - 1731

• Publications were named periodicals up until 1731, when ‘The Gentleman's Magazine’ was released.

• The word ‘magazine’ is Arabic for warehouse. • ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine’ ran between the

years of 1731 and 1922 and focused on current affairs that the public was interested in at the time of print.

First Advertising Agency - 1890

• With the popularity of magazines increasing, publications became readily available to the middle class.

• The first advertising agency was established in 1890, allowing for companies to reach out to readers. The agencies were able to include images in their adverts due to the availability of printing images using half tone in 1871.

Photographs - 1933

• Photo based news magazines start to appear in the United Kingdom. These magazines include ‘Pictorial Weekly’ and ‘Picture Post’.

Empire Film Magazine - 1989

• A magazine devoted to film, published monthly since 1989. The publication was published by Emap Consumer Media until 2008 when Bauer bought Emap. The magazine is the biggest selling film magazine in the UK.

POSTERS

1870

• A poster is a piece of paper containing information that is designed to be showcased on a wall or other vertical space. Posters have been available for the world to see for over 200 years, with their main intention to inform the public.

• However, due to the ability to mass produce paired with with the development of colour lithography, the printing industry was able to create the first ‘modern’ poster in 1870.

1890

• With lithography progressing, the use of posters spread throughout Europe. Poster art developed and was adopted by a number of French artists, whilst the need for posters commercially grew.

• Posters advertised a variety of products and events, with America deterring from the artistic French design. America usually used posters rich with text, solely intended to inform.

World War 1 – 1914-1918World War 2 – 1939-1945

• Posters were used heavily in the First and Second World Wars in order to recruit needed soldiers whilst also keeping morale high.

• A noticeably famous poster in British history is the iconic 1914 ‘Lord Kitchener Wants You’ design. This was a poster designed to personally address prospective soldiers.

1990’s

• Prior to the 1990’s, posters were decorated with vibrant, detailed illustrations. Later into the history of posters, films used photographs either taken in a studio or from a recognisable moment in the film. The use of photographs along with new editing software created a professional look on posters as we see them today.