ROBERT GWATHMEY Boston University, 1969

This poster was produced for an exhibition of American artist Robert Gwathmey at the School of Fine and Applied Arts Gallery at Boston University, held from February 21 to March 15, 1969. The event took place at 855 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts, a location long associated with the university’s arts programs.

The design features a stylized, hand-drawn figure standing amid a dense field of autumn leaves, holding a sheet of paper with a bird illustration partially obscuring the face. The figure’s body is rendered in angular, geometric planes, suggesting a modernist influence, while the textured red forms floating in the background add visual contrast and rhythm. The muted earth tones of the leaves and clothing balance with the bold red typography used for the exhibition details.

Known for his socially conscious paintings depicting American life—particularly scenes of rural labor and everyday people—Robert Gwathmey (1903–1988) often combined expressive figuration with strong graphic structure. The imagery in this poster reflects those themes, presenting a solitary figure in a contemplative moment while maintaining the artist’s characteristic stylization.

Printed to promote the gallery exhibition, the poster functions both as an announcement and as a small example of Gwathmey’s distinctive visual language from the late 1960s.