There’s nothing like seeing the working versions of a soon-to-be-iconic pop culture artifact — that fascination with process is at the root of our love for studio music bootlegs, handwritten writing drafts, deleted movie scenes, and the like. The promotional images for the Star Wars movies unquestionably hold a hallowed place in film and cultural history, and they’re all beautifully reproduced in Star Wars Art: Posters , the fifth and final volume in the George Lucas-curated series. But even better are the initial pencil sketches and work-in-progress drafts of those images that fill in the gaps. Lucasfilm and publisher Abrams Books were kind enough to share a few of those rough drafts with us, along with some additional bits of alternate poster lore; check them all out after the jump.
Ralph McQuarrie Full-color painted concept treatment for early Star Wars logo, 1975 Based on McQuarrie’s conceptual art, logo first produced as sticker during film production.
Ralph McQuarrie Full-color painted concept treatment for The Empire Strikes Back logo, 1979
Manuel Sanjulian Black and white concept treatment for The Empire Strikes Back poster, 1979
John Alvin Black-and-white concept treatment for Revenge of The Jedi (original title of Return of the Jedi) poster, c. 1982
Robert Hunt Black-and-white concept treatment for Return of the Jedi style “B” theatrical one-sheet, 1982
Drew Struzan Full-color painted concept treatment for Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure style “B” poster, 1984
Kia Asamiya Final printed artwork for The Phantom Menace poster Promotional reproduction of original manga artfor Tentomushi Comics, 1999
Drew Struzan Black-and-white concept treatment for Revenge of the Sith poster, 2005
Steve Thomas “Cruise the Galaxy,” 2011 Limited-edition giclee print for Acme Archives
Tyler Stout “Star Wars,” 2010 Limited Edition Mondo Screen Print
Star Wars Art: Posters is available now. Images copyright (C) 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. And TM. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.