The Poster Obsesser

Le Frou-Frou - Lucien-Henri Weil 1900

2012-11-10T18:41:00.001-08:00

Le Grillon - JACQUES VILLON 1899

2012-11-10T18:38:00.000-08:00

Normandie - A.M. Cassandre

2012-11-10T18:36:00.002-08:00

Par Le Paquebot L'Atlantique - A.M. Cassandre 1931

2012-11-10T18:34:00.001-08:00

L.M.S. Best Way - A.M. Cassandre 1928

2012-11-10T18:29:00.002-08:00

SS. Cote D'Azur - A.M. Cassandre 1935

2012-11-10T18:25:00.004-08:00

Etoile du Nord - A.M. Cassandre 1927

2012-11-10T18:25:00.001-08:00

Cordial Campari Liquor - Marcello Nizzoli 1925

2011-07-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Recoaro Mineral Water - Giorgio Muggiani 1928

2011-07-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

Aldo Mazza - Circuito Aereo Brescia 1909

2011-05-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

Marcello Dudovich - Mele & Co. Confezioni-Mode-Stoffe, Massimo Buon Mercato

2011-05-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

Adolfo Hohenstein - Cintura Calliano

2011-05-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

Plinio Codognato - Cicli Fiat 1910

2011-05-06T10:48:00.001-07:00

Achille Luciano Mauzan - Fate Tutti Il Vostro Dovere!

2011-05-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

From 1915 to 1918 there was a continuous succession of war loans to be launched by newspapers, and even more, with posters. One of the most powerful posters of its kind, for realism and the dramatic charge of the image, it appeared just at the time around Kobarid: the figure of the maid with her index finger and – most ominously – toward the public seems to see the symbol of resistance on the Piave.

Leopoldo Metlicovitz - Mostra Del Ciclo E Dell Automobile Milano 1907

2011-05-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

Mario Borgoni - National Hotel Cairo Egypt

2011-04-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most spectacular travel posters, in my opinion. It’s rich and unique colors help it stand out from the rest. It was created for the newly opened National Hotel in Cairo in 1905. Designed by Mario Borgoni, it features an explorer mounted on a camel surrounded by a stunning sunset over the pyramids.

Manuel Orazi - La Maison Moderne

2011-04-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

"Opening its doors in 1899, Julius Meier-Graefe's La Maison Moderne was a competitor of Bing's Maison de l'Art Nouveau, both high-end art dealers focusing on the latest in new, modern art -- which, at the time, included the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Felix Aubert, and Pierre Selmersheim. The Maison, however, had a generally younger clientele and was generally more at the forefront of the movement than Bing's. Orazi, the master lithographer and designer featured at the gallery, created for it one of the most brilliant masterpieces of the era. The model, in serene stillness, is surrounded by all manner of delicate object d'art, from elaborate combs to fanciful lamps, curious statues to languid glassware. A tour de force in graphic design!" (Poster Please)

Leonetto Cappiello - Inchiostri Bo Torino 1921

2011-04-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS POSTER!!!

This is one of my favorite Capiello posters of all time. The only problem is, I don't know anything about it. If you know anything about this poster, I encourage you to post your comments. Also, if you know who's selling the poster please let me know.

Leopoldo Metlicovitz - International Exhibition Milan 1906

2011-04-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

"The opening of the transalpine Simplon Tunnel in 1906 was one of the major accomplishments of the early industrial age. It provided the first direct train route between Paris and Milan, and a major exposition was planned to celebrate the achievement. Metlicovitz's design won the competition for the best poster to announce this event, and it was printed in four languages. It has become one of the most famous of all Italian posters.

Metlicovitz shows Mercury riding the train out of the tunnel's darkness into the light of Italy, with Milan and its cathedral in the distance. The extended perspective, the strong contrast of dark and light, and the bold red highlights emphasize the drama of the moment. It is accompanied by the distinguished elegance of Metlicovitz's lettering, which invites our eyes to soak in its sheer sensuousness." (International Poster Gallery)

12. H. A. Volodimer – First Grand Prix of Endurance 24 Hours Du Mans – Cup Rudge – Whitworth 1923

2011-04-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

The 24 Hours of Le Mans was first run on May 26 and 27, 1923, through public roads around Le Mans. Originally planned to be a three year event awarded the Rudge Whitworth Triennial Cup, with a winner being declared by the car which could go the farthest distance over three consecutive 24 Hour races, this idea was abandoned in 1928 and overall winners were declared for each single year depending on who covered the farthest distance by the time 24 hours were up. The early races were dominated by French, British, and Italian drivers, teams, and cars, with Bugatti, Bentley, and Alfa Romeo being the dominant marques. Innovations in car design began appearing at the track in the late 1930s, with Bugatti and Alfa Romeo running highly aerodynamic bodywork in order to run down the Mulsannes Straight at faster speeds. In 1936 the race was cancelled due to general strikes in France, and then with the outbreak of World War II in late 1939, the race went on a ten year hiatus while France reconstructed itself

Franz Laskoff - E & A Mele & Co. / Abiti Per Uomo

2011-03-31T12:43:00.000-07:00

Franz Laskoff was born in Poland and had worked briefly in Paris before coming to Milan. His style was strongly influenced by the Beggarstaff Brothers, who were known to reduce Art Nouveau to graphic essentials. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Laskoff understood the effectiveness of eliminating all excess details from his works. Although he only stayed in Italy until 1904, his avant-garde style had a major impact on many younger artists working there.

Starting in 1896, the Neapolitan department store Mele became the biggest account for Ricordi, the pioneering Milan lithographer. Ricordi put its very best artist to work for the innovative retailer. Using large images, Mele brought the elegance and excitement of pre-war High Society to an eager and growing Italian bourgeois class. The posters were often reviewed in the press, and were also sold in fine art galleries.

Laskoff, one of Ricordi's greatest poster artists, produced five masterpieces for Mele between 1900 and 1904. His "Abiti per Uomo" is just one example of the remarkable caliber of his work. An elegant Neapolitan man walks in the Piazza Plebiscito, taking in the sights. It of course includes a young woman, who seems to stroll slowly enough for our protagonist to intercept her. There is no doubt that wearing his Mele Suit and topcoat he will be a great catch!

Michel Liebeaux – Peugeot

2011-03-29T15:15:00.001-07:00

After World War II, Peugeot fell into financial hardship. To help boost sales, they developed the Quadrilette, a smaller, economically-designed car. It became the first of such types of automobiles to be made in the post-War period, making it exceptionally popular. Here, we see smoky examples of every type of man who should be behind the wheel of the new Quadrilette.

Otto Morach - Schweizer Werkbund Ausstellung

2011-03-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

This extremely rare poster was created in 1918 by Otto Morach and is a brilliant avant garde graphic. MOMA’s last poster show, “Forever Ago”, featured this graphic in the exhibition. This poster is one of my favorite and is also in my personal collection. There is very little information out there, which I could find, about the poster. If any of you have any more information about this poster, or know of any books that have this poster in it, I would love to hear from you.

Ernst Keller - Ausstellungen Walter Gropius

2011-03-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

This is a “Walter Gropius, Rational Building Construction” poster by Ernst Keller for two exhibitions at the zurich Kunstgewerbemuseum in 1931.

In this poster, Ernst Keller, one of the greatest Swiss Poster designers of his time, uses the diagonal to attract the eye and to suggest dynamic activity. This was a common strategy by this time, but Ernst Keller’s poster is entirely original and genius in its control of space, masterly drawing and integrating the text.

“The printing of the image is by letterpress from linocut blocks overprinted from type in opaque grey.” The fingers gripping the handle of the trowel turn the hand into a fist, a universal symbol in political propaganda to suggest the acclamation and solidarity of a crowd.

A.M. Cassandre - Nord Express

2011-03-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

First introduced in 1896, the Nord Express traveled from Paris to Saint Petersburg, stopping in Brussels, Cologne, Hanover, Berlin, Konigsberg, and Daugavpils along the way. It was meant to connect with the Sud Express, also out of Paris, creating a direct link from Russia to Lisbon, where passengers could board ships to America. After World War I, the final stop changed from St. Petersburg to Warsaw, and then was shut down for good once World War II came around.

This poster shows how well Cassandre understood that with rail travel, you're selling the romance of far off horizons and the utter power of its speed. Although the viewer's eyes are focused on the rail, they are almost on the same level, focused on the seemingly distant, far off horizon. Using this angle of view, the dynamic power, speed, and huge size of the locomotive are expressed so beautifully.