Dolly Rudeman op een tentoonstelling met haar werk in Kunstzaal Kleijkamp 1931

This photograph shows Dolly Rudeman at an exhibition of her work at Kunstzaal Kleijkamp, though we don't know when exactly it was taken, or by whom. What I find fascinating here are the posters behind her. They seem to be sketches for film advertising – “Anna Karenina” and a Greta Garbo film – made using the distinctly commercial medium of print. This provides a great insight into Dolly Rudeman's work, suggesting she worked in commercial art, and reminding us how different the categories of 'high art' and 'craft' once were. The posters' reliance on line and bold text highlights both the skill and labor involved in their production, especially considering the pre-digital era in which they were made. These were not simply mass-produced images but rather crafted items, each bearing the mark of the artist's hand. They underscore the value and artistry inherent in commercial art.