Leonetto Cappiello Art Prints

Whether creating an advertisement for fashion, liquor or food, the Italian born Cappiello (1875 – 1942) brought a sense of fun and laughter to every image he made. His poster characters dig into plates of pasta, pop open bottles of champagne, and walk in stylish clothing-usually portrayed with a sense of tremendous joy. A self taught artist, he headed to Paris in 1898 to join other artists of his period. He immediately started painting caricatures for the French publication Le Rire. This precipitated a string of assignments with the French newspapers. In 1900, he signed a contract to do poster designs for the poster publisher Vercasson. Gradually his style developed so that his images were created using solid lines and strong flat color. His contribution to poster design contemporized this popular art form. Inspired by Cassandre and other well-known poster designers, Cappiello became involved with the poster scene in Paris. He became a naturalized citizen of France in 1930 and retired to Grasse at age 66, having fulfilled his dream to be one of Europe's most celebrated graphic artists. He is now often called "the father of modern advertising," because of his innovation in poster design.