Admirable Artists: Hal Foster

I was first introduced to Hal Foster's artwork during my junior year of college. I was instantly taken by the astonishing care and accuracy in his study of detail.

While Foster is best known for his "Prince Valiant" creation, my first exposure to his work was with his run on the "Tarzan" comic strips. He had a striking chiaroscuro technique, using spot blacks for depth of field that made the savage jungle seem infinite. Quite an accomplishment for such a small panel.

Foster’s pen may have created thin lines but his composition is anything but sparse in this powerful piece from June 1936. 

Valiant prepares to single-handedly take on this band of barbarous brutes. The opposing forces takes up two thirds of the bridge and are viewed from a low angle, establishing their threatening dominance while Valiant, undeterred, charges in a dynamic pose, framed  against a shadowy backdrop and highlighted by his bright red cape which is suspended midair as if time itself had stopped to witness and recognize the triumph of a lone knight against an unstoppable army. Somewhere Chuck Norris is sobbing, knowing that he will never be this awesome.

Hal Foster's style has had particular influence on my piece "A View from the Window" with the rendering of Evergreen branches and snow carefully layered on top.

Influencial Connection:

Christmas 1937 Foster depicted Prince Valiant disguising himself as an ogre to frighten a villain.

In 1972, Jack Kirby introduced his character The Demon; Etrigan, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Valiant's monster mask.

Obviously someone was a fan, and I don't blame him.