CONTAINER CORP GREAT IDEAS: MASSEY/ THOMAS POSTER

From 1950 to 1976 Container Corporation of America ran an advertising campaign entitled “Great Ideas of Western Man.” Each poster in the series (totaling 195) combined a statement from a famous Western thinker with an illustration by a contemporary artist.

The illustration in this poster (number 178 in the series) was designed by artist/graphic designer John Massey and reflects his interest in geometric patterns and shapes in nature, such as leaves and flowers. It illustrates this quote from Dylan Thomas about nature:

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

John Massey (b. 1931), an American artist/graphic designer, incorporated modernist style into American design and advertising.  From 1964-1983 he was director of design and corporate communications at Container Corporation of America.  His work for the company influenced graphic designers by changing the way businesses advertise and design products.

Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion."

Walter Paepcke, President of the Container Corporation, initiated this series of advertisements because he believed in expressing larger moral, philosophical and political issues in the company’s advertisements while building awareness of the company by promoting good citizenship.

This poster makes a thought-provoking addition to every poster collection and interesting wall art for every room.  If this poster interests you, you'll also want to look at the other posters in this "Great Ideas of Western Man" series that we offer.

Condition: A