Friday, June 09, 2017
Artistic genotype
Ideas generally appear in genotype form before they get implemented as phenotypes.
An example from Radio Retailing mag, April 34.
The illustration was drawn by a commercial artist probably working for Sears. It's a safe bet that the artist wasn't an industrial designer or a car stylist, and he wasn't trying to set standards. He was just making a quick sketch as part of a larger message.
Closeup of the car:
Again, this was the April '34 issue, and the window display would have been made several months earlier. At that time the Airflow was probably on the market, but the artist emphatically DIDN'T draw an Airflow. The windows and doors are obviously unrealistic, but the outline is much closer to a Studie Land Cruiser, which was first introduced in April '34 in limited quantities. Couldn't have been an influence.
This car represents an artistic genotype, an expectation of a proper streamlined car. Airflow failed the template miserably. The Land Cruiser got there, but Studie was struggling with bankruptcy and couldn't continue making low-volume cars. Chrysler brought the Airflow closer to the ideal in '35, but it was too late by then.
The illustration was drawn by a commercial artist probably working for Sears. It's a safe bet that the artist wasn't an industrial designer or a car stylist, and he wasn't trying to set standards. He was just making a quick sketch as part of a larger message.
Closeup of the car:
Again, this was the April '34 issue, and the window display would have been made several months earlier. At that time the Airflow was probably on the market, but the artist emphatically DIDN'T draw an Airflow. The windows and doors are obviously unrealistic, but the outline is much closer to a Studie Land Cruiser, which was first introduced in April '34 in limited quantities. Couldn't have been an influence.
This car represents an artistic genotype, an expectation of a proper streamlined car. Airflow failed the template miserably. The Land Cruiser got there, but Studie was struggling with bankruptcy and couldn't continue making low-volume cars. Chrysler brought the Airflow closer to the ideal in '35, but it was too late by then.Labels: Grand Blueprint
¶ 4:21 PM
