The Allure of Retrofuturism
An art style which believed in the future.
Retrofuturism is an aesthetic best defined as “a vision of the future, from the past.” You may have seen before art of dream-like landscapes with spaceships and people dressed in 50s attire, living in a Jetsons world.
People have always been enamored with different ideas of what the future might hold; science fiction is currently one of the most popular genres of media in the world. Series like Star Wars, Back to the Future, and Bladerunner have stayed in the hearts and minds of generations since their releases.
A stark difference between sci-fi and the the retrofuture aesthetic is that sci-tends to be dystopian, bleak, or depressing; meanwhile retrofuturism features hopeful utopias with cool gadgets and happy people. Perhaps this optimistic view of the future is why we still gravitate towards the Retrofuturistic aesthetic–a reminder of what we wanted the future to look like.
“The Prologue and the Promise.” Mural by Robert McCall
Retrofuturism is an overarching genre that encapsulates many different types of art styles, conceptual architecture, advertisements, fiction, and comic books. The aesthetic has evolved in the mainstream eye every decade, with vintage pin-up girls in the 40s, nuclear atompunk in the 50s, and gorgeous sci-fi covers & comics in the 70s and 80s. There is a seemingly lasting love of this style: the contrast of something vintage with a futuristic idea.
In 1962, Motorola contracted artist Charles Schridde to paint a series depicting a “Motorola Future.” Schridde imagined these dreamy homes with striking angular architecture, happy families, and of course, the newest Motorola technology.
“Fresh from MOTOROLA …new leader in the lively art of electronics!” Charles Schridde, 1961
Retrofuturism was also a big influence on the Art-Deco movement. Futurist and artist Arthur Radebaugh was known for his work in the automotive industry, which combines both Art-Deco and retrofuturistic styles. Radebaugh was commissioned by Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation to create promotional art for their advertisements in the 40s.
Arthur Radebaugh for Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation, 1940s
Syd Mead is considered the grandfather of concept art. You may not have heard of his name, but you’ve certainly seen his work: he created concept art for Bladerunner, Aliens, and Tron. Mead’s art is striking, architectural, and fantastical. Mead was commissioned by U.S. Steel in 1969 for promotional work and afterwards launched his career in concept art for different movie franchises.
Syd Mead for U.S Steel, 1969
Robert McCall is a giant in Retrofuturism. Like Mead, he created concept art for titles you are most likely familiar with, such as 2001: Space Odyssey and Star Trek. He also created artworks for NASA. McCall’s work is playful, incredibly detailed, and fantastical. One can certainly imagine how a child’s imagination is fueled by just staring at McCall’s work.
Robert McCall
“Today we live in a world filled with awesome possibilities, both good and bad. The rush of technology is so rapid, to stay abreast of it has become more and more difficult. Our understanding of the physical universe continues to grow and astonishes us with its marvelous complexity.
To be an artist in these times of explosive change is, for me, a privilege and a challenge. My goal is to document in my drawings and paintings a small part of this changing world and to anticipate in my work, the future that lies ahead.”
It’s easy to see why we are captivated by this aesthetic. Retrofuturism is an experiment in our imagination and creativity. Art has the power to express the most positive or most negative visions; in this case, for our future.
Retrofuturism emerged after the World Wars, meaning we were more optimistic about our future: the Space Age. And cyberpunk—the moody, brooding brother of retrofuturism— was born as retrofuturism was ending. Perhaps we became pessimistic about the economy; perhaps we began to see the deleterious effects of too much technology.
The Retrofuturism art movement was a little modern Renaissance era about our future. Like most of history, art movements repeat themselves. Perhaps we may soon have a more optimistic view of the future that follows the pessimistic view of the future today.
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