Exploring Retro Futurism: Origin, Characteristics & Art

You’ve probably seen old drawings or art in which people imagined the future—cars with propellers, submarines driving on land, or boats that can take off from water. This style is called Retro Futurism.

It’s all about looking back at how people pictured the future. Even though some of those ideas are almost a reality now, retro-futurism still captures that nostalgic vision of what the future might have been.

Join us as we explore this trending art style and some artwork influenced by it.

What Is Retro Futurism?

Retro Futurism is all about looking back at how people in the past imagined the future would be. It combines old-fashioned ideas with futuristic concepts.

Think of old movies or art where people pictured flying cars, futuristic cities, or strange new gadgets. Even though these ideas might not match our real future, they still inspire art and design today.

Retro Futurism takes those old visions and brings them to life in a fun and interesting way.

What’s The Difference Between Retro Futurism and Futurism?

Retrofuturism is a tribute to futurism in the past. The word has two parts: retro and future, which have Latin origins and mean backwards and future.

Let’s take a look at both these concepts:

Futurism

Definition: Futurism is all about imagining and predicting the future and what it will look like. It involves thinking about new technology, societal changes, and what might come next.

Context: This term often refers to early 20th-century art and ideas from Italy, where people were excited about technology and modern life. But today, it’s also about trying to guess and shape future trends.

Retro Futurism

Definition: Retro-futurism looks back at how people in the past thought the future would be. It’s about seeing old visions of the future, like the 1960s idea of flying cars or futuristic homes.

Context: This often includes old movies, art, and designs that show how people imagined the future would turn out. It’s like looking at past predictions through a nostalgic lens.

Also, check out Cubism In Graphic Design | Art Influences and History

The History of Retro Futurism

Although retrofuturism represents the anticipation of the future from around the same time in the past, this isn’t to say that it has always been the same. The art movement has seen a few different periods.

Earliest Examples Of Futurism

The earliest examples of futurism were from as early as the 19th century. This illustration by Albert Robida from 1902 is one example of what the earliest artwork looked like:

The Beginnings

Retro-futurism was mainly present in entertainment media, such as science fiction novels, comics, and rare movies, around the 1960s, when it was still called futurism. The movement’s initial examples were not taken very seriously, but that soon changed.

As magazines started to pick up on and incorporate futurism into their stories, it gained traction and was even loosely considered a kind of science.

The Wave Of Futuristic Retro

As the 1970s came about, so did the next trend in retrofuturism. The new meta was based on the appeal of adding new technology to the old style.

This meant combining clothes, furniture, houses, and art from the past with futuristic technology. The idea was to almost leave behind these style elements and revolutionize other tech parallels.

Also, check out The Influence of Art History on Modern Pop Art – A Deep Dive

17 Retro Futurism Art Examples

Now that we know a bit about the history of this art style let’s examine some examples.

1. “The Moon of Doom” Illustration by Frank R. PaulSet In The Year 2009 (1928)

2. Space Devastator by Julian S. Krupa, 1939

3. The Hoover Constellation – A Floating Vacuum Cleaner

4. The German 1939 “Schlörwagen” Rear-Engine Passenger Vehicle by Karl Schlör

5. A Woman On A Typewriter Chair With Headphones and a Light in Paris (France) in 1972

6. The XPAK 400 Aircar Built By George Barris In 1959

7. Metropolis 2050 by Robert McCall In 1984

8. “Nach Tibet” By Waldemar Von Kozak

9. Mazda MX-81 Aria 1981 Retro Futurism Concept Car

10. Spirit of Flight by Robert McCall, 1992 (For the Dryden Flight Center)

11. Mirror, Mirror, Every Wall… “Logan’s Run” 1976

12. Wonder Stories – Adventures of Future Science (1940)

13. Renault Racoon (1992)

14. A Retrofuturistic Artwork: Bear in Space by B. Mikhail (1970)

15. Retro Futurism Example: Spaceship 2056 (1990), Designed By Syd Mead

16. A 1988 Prediction Of Los Angeles In 2013

17. Seiko TV Watch 1982

How Is Retro Futurism Relevant Today?

With so many of the examples we’ve given, retrofuturism might seem obsolete. But that’s far from the case.
Many independent artists and graphic designers are fighting to keep the trend alive. Here are some that we found.

The Invasion by Flogfrog – A Retro Futurism-Inspired Illustration

Noisy Circket by LaserGadgets

Retro Futurism Inspired Sunrise Oil Painting By Pavlokandbyba

Wrapping Up – Retro Futurism

Retro-futurism is more than just a nostalgic nod to the past; it’s a creative exploration of how we’ve imagined the future through the ages.

By blending vintage aesthetics with futuristic concepts, retro-futurism offers a unique lens to reflect on our hopes, dreams, and fears about the future. It reminds us that our vision of the future is constantly evolving, influenced by the technology and culture of our times.

Whether through art, design, or storytelling, retro-futurism inspires and captivates, bridging the gap between yesterday’s dreams and tomorrow’s possibilities.

Like this post? Check out more graphic design concepts and ideas on our blog.