Chantrell When The Earth Cracked Open Artwork

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Type: Artwork
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1971
Genre: Horror / Glamour
Reference: #1436

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More about this item:

A rare finished Chantrell artwork (13 1/2"x 18 1/4") for the mooted but ultimately un-made Hammer film "When The Earth Cracked Open" (c' 1969-72).

Chantrell dominated poster production for Hammer Studios during the period 1965-70 & continued to work with Hammer for several years beyond. Although in this later period Chantrell did not produce cinema poster artwork he was creating artwork used specifically to help secure finance for future Hammer productions. Various scripts were submitted for "When The Earth Cracked Open" & Chantrell produced at least three separate artwork designs for promotional flyers etc. The "explicit" nature of this design clearly indicates that the artwork was not for wider public consumption but rather for industry insiders & potential financial backers. The imagery indicates a modern setting though other incarnations of the film script had a pehistoric feel a la "One Million Years BC" (1966) (see: https://www.chantrellposter.com/Hammer-When-The-Earth-Cracked-Open-Proof-Original/1210). Ever inventive, Chantrell "cracks" the title script to emphasise the cataclysmic underpinning of the film.

The artwork is gouache applied to artboard with paste-on printed script to the upper right corner. The artwork has both tracing paper & paper overlays. Chantrell has signed the artwork clearly in the bottom right corner. There are single pin-holes to the corners, presumably from when the artwork was exhibited to potential financiers. This is a superb piece of poster illustration & a great example of Chantrell's skill as both a designer & illustrator. It is also a scarce & attractive piece of Hammer memorabilia. Alongside the back-catalogue of films Hammer released were various other titles which were un-made but surviving artwork for these is extremely rare.

NB. Given the size/value of this piece, a separate shipping quote will be required for all buyers.

Please note this lot is sold without copyright, reproduction rights, licensing agreements or any other type of legal release.
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