Paul Davis’s image of Raul Julia as the infamous “Mack the Knife” in the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill classic is both confrontational and arresting, blending elements of Socialist Realism with those of 19th-century portraiture. Unlike most theater advertising, this poster did not mention the stars, the director, or even that it was part of the Shakespeare Festival. We are only offered a title dripping blood and the location of the performance. This unusual decision was made by Papp, who wanted the posters to convey a sense of each play rather than merely sell tickets, understanding that the images would long outlast the productions. When Poster House moved into our building, a copy of this poster had been glued to the back wall by TekServe, the previous tenant.
For inquiries about image licensing, please contact collections@posterhouse.org.