
Claire Tole-Moir
Head of Department
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Head of Department
Provenance:
Offered by the artist's family.
The original Star Wars (1977) did not receive a wide theatrical release in the Soviet Union until 1990. Artists Alexander Chantsev and Yuri Bokser designed four highly stylised official film posters for the release, one being the present artwork. None of the three aliens shown feature in the film itself, although the bald head and pointed ears of the left-hand figure is reminiscent of Ralph McQuarrie's early concept sketches of Chewbacca.
Chantsev's career peaked with commissions for Reklamfilm, a Soviet publishing house for film posters (Soviet and foreign), during this period he produced his most distinguished works between 1987 and 1991, including the present artwork. His designs have been exhibited internationally, including a 1991 solo exhibition in Rome.
Many film posters for Western-made films were considered propaganda tools by the Soviet Union, and were heavily restricted or prohibited from circulation. The present artwork would have been commissioned as a wholly original design that was unrecognisable compared to Western posters for the release in the West in 1977.