The Dark Crystal c. 1982

Robert Peak created this vibrant promotional poster for the film, The Dark Crystal. Its themes of environmental harmony, the balance of good and evil, and the importance of self-sacrifice, resonated strongly in the late twentieth century. The image blends elements of fantasy and science fiction. At the bottom, we see the protagonists: two Gelflings. Above them rises the technological artifice of the Crystal itself, and above that floats a terrifying Skeksis, a creature of pure selfish desire. The composition creates meaning by contrasting images of purity, technological power, and the abuse of power. Peak was working in an era in which corporations were becoming more powerful and people were becoming more concerned about the environment. To understand Peak's art, we can look at the cultural anxieties of the late twentieth century. It asks us to consider what a more environmentally sustainable, ethically balanced world might look like.