STAR WARS POSTERS

STAR WARS

ORIGINAL POSTERS EXHIBITION

A NEW HOPE, 1977

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…"

"It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.
During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, and space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.
Pursued by the Empire's sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy.”

Tom Jung, designer of the first STAR WARS poster and logo

Tom Jung, an american illustrator, was commissioned in 1977 to design the poster for the first Star Wars film (Episode IV, A New Hope). He was given the theme of "good versus evil". He decided to represent this opposition using the symbol of the cross, sprouting from Luke Skywalker's light saber, with Darth Vader's mask and the Death Star in the background.

Jung's work was used as an 'A Style' movie poster for the film's advertising campaign.

Tom Jung also designed the "Star Wars" logo, using the slant of the scrolling text in the film's prologue.

Noriyoshi Ohrai

Noriyoshi Ohrai is a prolific Japanese artist in both video games and film. One of his illustrations in tribute to the first part of the saga was published in a Japanese science fiction magazine and caught the attention of George Lucas himself. The director then commissioned Noriyoshi Ohrai to design the international poster for the second Star Wars film (Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back). The poster was mainly used to promote the film in Japan and Australia.

1997 SPECIAL EDITION

The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition is an anniversary edition celebrating 20 years since the theatre release of the first Star Wars “Episode IV, A New Hope”.

Drew Struzan

Drew Struzan has created the three Special Edition posters for the re-release of Episodes IV, V and VI.

A painter and illustrator, his work is best known for the many movie posters he designed over the course of his career. Active in the film industry since the mid-70s, he has worked on over 150 movie posters. Although he was not present at the release of the original Star Wars trilogy, he nevertheless produced the illustrations for the special edition posters, released in 1997, as well as the official visuals for the prequel.

Accustomed to the pyramidal compositions that have become typical of Hollywood blockbusters, the diaphanous glimmers enveloping the faces of the characters and his way of rendering light made him a key artist in the movie posters of the 80s and 90s. The key characteristics of his style can be seen in his posters for the release of Episodes I, II and III.

Around 200 Star Wars objects: collectors' items, toys, figurines, spaceships and accessories will be on sale at the opening,
on 1 June 2023 at the Galerie 1 2 3.

Four examples in large format:

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, 1980

“It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy. Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth. The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space.”

Tom Jung posters

For "The Empire Strikes Back" poster, Jung showed the film's characters in action, their dynamic poses standing out from his earlier, more static compositions. He used key scenes from the film to illustrate his poster, including the cult scene where Darth Vader tries to persuade Luke to join the dark side..

Japanese poster for the release of "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980.

Special edition

Boba Fett, bounty hunter and hitman

Star Wars figures set, ArtFx 1/7 from Japanese manufacturer Kotobukiya:
Darth Vader and 6 Bounty Hunters:
4-Lom, Bossk, Zuckuss, Boba Fett, IG-88, Dengar

RETURN OF THE JEDI, 1983

“Luke Skywalker has returned to his home planet of Tatooine in an attempt to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt.
Little does Luke know that the GALACTIC EMPIRE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first dreaded Death Star. When completed, this ultimate weapon will spell certain doom for the small band of rebels struggling to restore freedom to the galaxy…”

Michel Jouin

He began working in advertising, but his career turned to cinema after Fox commissioned him to design the poster for the film "Return of the Jedi" in 1983. He went on to design several cult movie posters, including "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Cinema Paradiso".

Kazuhiko Sano's posters for "Return of the Jedi" in 1983

Three years after graduating from the San Francisco Academy of Art, Kazuhiko Sano has signed the most emblematic work of his career as a professional illustrator: the poster for the third episode of the original saga, "Return of the Jedi".

American poster by Tim Reamer for "Return of the Jedi", released in 1983

It's a highly symbolic, even mystical poster, which illustrates perfectly the central theme of the saga: the battle of strength against the dark side (the fight between good and evil).

On the posters for the first three episodes (IV, V and VI), the Jedis' lightsabers are white, surrounded by a blue halo to contrast them with the light backgrounds and give them depth.

Special edition

Special Edition posters designed by Drew Struzan for the theatrical re-release of Episode VI, "Return of the Jedi", on 14 March 1997.

The Ewok Adventure & Rogue One

THE PHANTOM MENACE, 1999

“Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo. While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict….”

Darth Maul

Cut-out advertising boards (stand-ups), usually displayed at cinema entrances.

Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala & Darth Maul

Four posters printed in silkscreen in 1999 to launch "Episode I" on the Swiss market.

MTT by Hasbro

ATTACK OF THE CLONES, 2002

“There is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Several thousand solar systems have declared their intentions to leave the Republic.
This separatist movement, under the leadership of the mysterious Count Dooku, has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights to maintain peace and order in the galaxy. Senator Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, is returning to the Galactic Senate to vote on the critical issue of creating an ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC to assist the overwhelmed Jedi…”

Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker & Count Doku

Two posters printed in silkscreen in 2002 to launch "Episode II" on the Swiss market.

REVENGE OF THE SITH, 2005

“War! The Republic is crumbling under attacks by the ruthless Sith Lord, Count Dooku.
There are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere. In a stunning move, the fiendish droid leader, General Grievous, has swept into the Republic capital and kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Galactic Senate. As the Separatist Droid Army attempts to flee the besieged capital with their valuable hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a desperate mussion to rescue the captive Chancellor..."

THE FORCE AWAKENS, 2015

“Luke Skywalker has vanished.
In his absence, the sinister FIRST ORDER has risen from the ashes of the Empire and will not rest until Skywalker, the last Jedi, has been destroyed.
With the support of the REPUBLIC, General Leia Organa leads a brave RESISTANCE. She is desperate to find her brother Luke and gain his help in restoring peace and justice to the galaxy.
Leia has sent her most daring pilot on a secret mission to Jakku, where an old ally has discovered a clue to Luke's whereabouts..."

THE LAST JEDI, 2017

“The FIRST ORDER reigns. Having decimated the peaceful Republic, Supreme Leader Snoke now deploys his merciless legions to seize military control of the galaxy.
Only General Leia Organa's band of RESISTANCE fighters stand against the rising tyranny, certain that Jedi Master Luke Skywalker will return and restore a spark of hope to the fight.
But the Resistance has been exposed. As the First Order speeds toward the rebel base, the brave heroes mount a desperate escape...”

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, 2019

“The dead speak! The galaxy has heard a mysterious broadcast, a threat of REVENGE in the sinister voice of the late EMPEROR PALPATINE.
GENERAL LEIA ORGANA dispatches secret agents to gather intelligence, while REY, the last hope of the Jedi, trains for battle against the diabolical FIRST ORDER.
Meanwhile, Supreme Leader KYLO REN rages in search of the phantom Emperor, determined to destroy any threat to his power…”

STAR WAR ORIGINAL POSTERS