La evolución del código cromático de las portadas de Abc, 1936-1939

Pedro Pérez Cuadrado

doi:10.4185/RLCS-63-2008-760d-174-188

Authors

Pedro Pérez Cuadrado Rey Juan Carlos University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-63-2008-760d-174-188

Keywords:

printing press Abc, colour, 1936, 1939, history of journalism, newspapers, covers, printing systems, typography, rotogravure, three colour printing, tour color printing, Spanish Civil War, semiotic, illustration, Bardasano, war photograph, Torcuato Luca de Tena, Elfidio Alonso, Blanco y Negro, Art Déco, Baldrich, poster, Pedro Mairata

Abstract

In 1936, Abc was a newspaper that published its Sunday edition in a remarkable way and in full color. The newspaper was already printing with two different systems - typography and gravure - and was at the forefront of technology. This research work aims, in the first instance, to document how the Spanish newspaper had reached such a level of quality and how, based on this, it establishes the color printing processes (trichromy first and four-color later) on a regular basis and by first time in Spain for a media outlet. Along the same lines, it is intended to place special emphasis on the meanings that color proposes in a printed medium in the mid-20th century (there are still more than 60 years for color to be a constant in the Spanish daily press) and how war civil would radically influence this process: first, to modify the color languages in the dominant warmongering aesthetic and, finally, to make it disappear permanently for obvious reasons.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Pedro Pérez Cuadrado, Rey Juan Carlos University

• Contracted professor-doctor of the Faculty of Communication of the Rey Juan Carlos University. Department of Communication Sciences since the 2007-2008 academic year.

• Previously (1995-2007), Associate Professor of the Faculty of Humanities and Communication Sciences of the San Pablo CEU University. Department of Audiovisual Communication and New Technologies. Informative Graphics Section. Director of said department between the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 academic years.

• Also Associate Professor of Journalism at the Faculty of Information Sciences of the Complutense University of Madrid between the years 1995-2003.

• Doctor in Information Sciences from the Complutense University. Thesis Reading: April 16, 1996

• Prize of the José Antonio Artigas Foundation for Doctoral Thesis for the work ‘Design, technology and production of the newspaper El Sol (1990-1992)’.

• Responsible for the design departments of the following newspapers: La Verdad (Murcia, 1980-1982 and 1984-1986); Canarias 7 (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1982 and 1983); Information (Alicante, 1984); and ‘La Gaceta de los Negocios’ (Madrid, 1989).

• Director of the production departments of El Sol (1990-1992) and La Información de Madrid (1994-1995).

• Author of the original designs for Canarias 7 (in 1982 and 1989); Tribuna de Salamanca (1994, SND award); the Galician Sport Champion (1995) and La Gaceta Regional de Salamanca (2001).

• His research is currently focused on the development and application of color to the press, as well as the typographic and page development of Spanish newspapers. Keywords: design, typography, color, newspapers, layout.

• He has given numerous courses, masters and seminars in various public and private centers, always around the application of new information technologies for information processes.

• Design consultant and new press production technologies for various national companies.

• Member of AEPD (Spanish Association of Design Professionals) and SND (Society of News Design).

• Author of several articles in specialized press on new information technologies, design, typography and color.

• Author of evaluative studies in the production and design of national, regional and local newspapers: La Verdad (Murcia, 1994) and Hoy, from Extremadura (Badajoz, 1996).

• Organizer and coordinator of the Conference on Photojournalism, Publishing and Design in the Press of the Faculty of Humanities and Communication Sciences of the San Pablo-CEU University, Madrid (1996-2007).

Published books:

• “Chronicle of a redesign. Canarias 7 - 1998/1999 ”Edited by: Zona Impresa, S. L. Madrid 1999. 140 pages. ISBN 84-699-1105-8

• “Diario de Burgos. Image change for 2000 ”Edited by: Zona Impresa, S. L. Madrid 2000. 80 pages. ISBN 84-699-3459-7.

• "Basic principles of journalistic design". Editorial Universitas, S. A. Madrid 2001. 224 pages. ISBN 84-7991-115-8.

• "La Gaceta, content and image of a newspaper in the 21st century" Edited by: Comunicación Uno. Madrid 2002. 136 pages. ISBN 84-699-7037-2

• “The technological challenge of a design newspaper. El Sol, 1990-1992 ”Edited by: Zona Impresa, S. L .. Madrid 2004. 410 pages. ISBN 84-609-0317-6

• "Daily types: Press and text out of context" Edited by: A. D. C. V. Madrid 2004. 96 pages. ISBN 84-609-1550-6

• "Headers, headers, labels, logos and stains" Edited by: A. D. C. V. Madrid 2006. 86 pages. ISBN-10: 84-689-9341-7

• “30 years of journalistic design in Spain: 1976-2006. 190 pages. Edit Printed Zone. Madrid, 2007. ISBN: 978-84-690-4688-3.

References

Basilio, M. (2002): Genealogies for a New State: Painting and Propaganda in Franco´s Spain, 1936-1940. Project Muse. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/dis.2003.0030

Bozal, V. (1976): Vanguardia artística y realidad social: 1936-1976. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.

De Santiago, M. A. (2004): Análisis de la fotografía de prensa en España durante la Guerra Civil (1936-39). Imágenes de guerra en el Abc de Madrid y en La Vanguardia de Barcelona, Madrid: USP.

Díaz Noci, J. (1998): "Nacimiento y recepción del diseño moderno. Las publicaciones en lengua vasca (1921-1936)". En Zer, Revista de Estudios de Comunicación, 4.

Gabino Campos, M. (1999): "Reflexiones sobre Abc republicano a través de su director, Elfidio Alonso Podríguez". En Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, 22. Recuperado el 8 de febrero 2008, de: https://mdc.ulpgc.es/utils/getfile/collection/rldcs/id/499/filename/35.pdf

Gómez Mompart, J. y Tresserras, J. (1989): La reorganización del sistema informativo durante la guerra, Barcelona: Ariel.

Iglesias, F. (1980): Historia de una empresa periodística. Prensa Española, editora de Abc y Blanco y Negro (1891-1978), Madrid: Prensa Española S.A.

Lallana García, F. (1988): El color en la prensa diaria, Madrid: Universidad Complutense.

López de Zuazo, A. (1977): Diccionario de Periodismo, Madrid: Pirámide.

Olmos, V. (2002): Historia del Abc. 100 años clave en la historia de España, Barcelona: Plaza Janés.

Pelta, R. (1996): "Pervivencias e ideologías: los ilustradores déco en la época de la autarquía". En Espacio, Tiempo y Forma, serie VII, Historia del Arte, t. 9. Madrid.

Pérez Cuadrado, P. (2000): "Apuntes para un estudio de los anuncios en color en los diarios españoles". En Revista Universitaria de Publicidad y Relaciones Públicas, 7. Madrid: Universidad Complutense.

Pérez Cuadrado, P. (2003): "Apuntes para un estudio de la prensa española en color en el siglo XIX". En Revista Doxa Comunicación, 2. Madrid: Universidad CEU San Pablo. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31921/doxacom.n2a7

Pérez Mateos, J. A. (2002): Abc, Historia íntima del diario. Madrid: Libro- Hobby.