Print of the Day: A Poster for Coffee by Cappiello, 1924

Poster for Cafe Martin
Leonetto Cappiello, 1924
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This handsome poster for a particular brand of coffee was created by Leonetto Cappiello (1875-1942).  From 1903, Leonetto Cappiello began producing fantastical creatures in his posters which would become associated with the product being advertised and, thus, became an early form of mascot.

Cappiello became associated with a style of drawing figures which appeared to be leaping or dancing out of their plain backgrounds towards the spectator. Some of his designs were used repeatedly for decades.

This particular example dates to 1924.