Tom Jung understood scale. Even when the paper is a standard One-Sheet, his best work makes the film feel much bigger than the frame around it.
His career crossed art direction, design and illustration, and that shows in the compositions. There is usually a strong central idea before all the supporting detail arrives. Figures, faces and action are organised rather than simply added.
Star Wars is inevitably where many collectors first encounter Jung, and it is also where identification gets particularly important. The franchise has first-release material, later theatrical issues, anniversary printings and an enormous amount of reproduction imagery. ‘It has the right artwork’ is nowhere near enough information.
We like Jung because his work sits right in the middle of a period we genuinely love collecting: when a hand-painted image could become the public face of a huge film. There is nostalgia in that, certainly, but there is also an enormous amount of craft.
What to Look For When Collecting Tom Jung
Star Wars material in particular spans first-release prints, later theatrical reissues, anniversary printings and reproductions. Confirm the exact release and printing date rather than relying on the artwork alone.
Original Posters by Tom Jung
A live look at Tom Jung posters currently in the Printed Originals collection.
