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Artist: Cappiello Leonetto

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Leonetto Cappiello

1875 Livorno, Italy
1942 Cannes, France

Leonetto Cappiello was an Italian poster artist who spent most of his life living and working in Paris. He is considered to be highly innovative. Cappiello was the first to use bold color and bold images which appear to pop from dark backgrounds. This is very unlike the earlier Maitres de l’Affiche which were delicately drawn and colored.

Cappiello had no formal artistic training. He began his career as a cartoonist and caricaturist. As a young man, he moved to Paris and his work was published in the magazine, Le Rire. Cappiello’s first advertising poster was for the newspaper, Frou-Frou in 1899.

During World War I, he worked for his country of origin as an interpreter, but returned to Paris and devoted the rest of his life to poster design. Cappiello created over 530 posters. Among his best known posters are those for Mossant, Maurin Quina, Le Nils, Veuve Amiot, and Cognac Albert Robin.

The artistic influence of the period: L'art Nouveau

By precaution, it is important to mention that not all posters are influenced by the main artistic movement of the period they belong to. Some are inspired by the unique style of the artist, by another art movement, or simply refuse conformism

Art Nouveau is a style of visual arts and architecture that developed in both Europe and North America at the end of the 19TH century. It employs many plant motifs and is characterized by flowing, curvilinear forms. Art Nouveau pieces are highly ornamental and generally are asymmetrical.

It is thought that this Art Period arose in response to the Industrial Revolution. It appears to deplore the shoddiness of mass produced, machine-made objects. Standards of grace and beauty were applied to everyday goods. The Art Nouveau movement was extremely broad in scope. Its principles were applied to building design as well as to all items within the building. Art Nouveau broke the barriers between fine and applied arts. No object was over-looked no matter how utilitarian. The magnificent wrought iron entrances to the Metro in Paris, designed by Hector Guimard are classic example of the Art Nouveau style.