Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a poster by Catherine Ashmore. It dates from 1989 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This poster combines a photographic image with bold typographic information to promote a performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker presented by the English National Ballet at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 26 December 1989. The design documents a specific moment from the company’s inaugural season after it changed its name from the London Festival Ballet.
Subject & Meaning
The central photograph captures two dancers from the production: a female dancer in a white, flowing dress kneels with one arm lifted, while a male partner in a white military-style costume with red detailing and a pale wig stands beside her. The pose suggests a narrative moment within the ballet’s festive storyline, emphasizing grace and partnership.
Technique & Style
The image is a black‑and‑white photograph printed on a poster, with the figures illuminated from the front against a dark stage backdrop, creating strong contrast. The surrounding typographic layout provides essential details, artistic director Peter Schaufuss, performance dates, and venue, using a clean, sans‑serif style typical of late‑1980s promotional graphics.
History & Provenance
The poster records the English National Ballet’s first season under its new name, following the rebranding from the London Festival Ballet. It marks a specific performance of The Nutcracker at the Royal Festival Hall, a key venue for the company’s winter repertoire, and reflects the company’s efforts to establish a fresh public identity.
Context
Produced at the close of the 1980s, the poster aligns with a broader trend of using photographic imagery in performing‑arts advertising, moving away from illustrated designs. It also situates the ballet within the cultural calendar of post‑Christmas London, when The Nutcracker traditionally draws large audiences.
Artist & collection
Artist
Catherine Ashmore made poster-size prints in the late 1980s. One of them, the 1989 Untitled, shows a figure in a cluttered room filled with books and papers. The flat colors and sharp outlines feel like a snapshot from…
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