Ofelia Perfumerie poster – Leonetto Cappiello wall war- 1906
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of fragrance with a high-quality reproduction of Leonetto Cappiello’s iconic Ofelia Perfumerie poster. This stunning piece of art history, created in 1906, captures the essence of perfume artistry with a touch of Spanish flair.
A Master of Boldness: Leonetto Cappiello’s Artistic Legacy
Leonetto Cappiello, a renowned French artist and lithographer, left a lasting mark on the world of advertising posters. Before becoming synonymous with his vibrant creations, Cappiello honed his skills as a caricaturist, injecting humor and personality into his illustrations.
A Departure from the Norm: A New Visual Language for Posters
Cappiello’s distinct style stands out from the crowd. Unlike the painterly approach favored by his contemporaries, he embraced a bold, cartoonish aesthetic. His posters featured striking figures rendered in flat, vivid colors against stark backgrounds, a groundbreaking technique at the time.
Ofelia Perfumerie: A Spanish Señora and the Allure of Fragrance
Cappiello’s Ofelia Perfumerie poster showcases a captivating image of a Spanish señora, possibly inspired by Shakespeare’s Ophelia. The elegant woman, adorned in a long green dress with black stripes, gracefully holds a bouquet overflowing with fragrant flowers. This floral abundance hints at the ingredients that make up the exquisite “La Giralda” perfume, a fragrance by Ofelia Perfumerie named after the iconic bell tower of Seville, Spain.
A Model Steeped in Parisian Stardom
While the identity of the model remains a mystery, she bears a striking resemblance to the renowned French soprano Jeanne Granier. A muse to Cappiello, Granier graced numerous works throughout his career, lending her captivating presence to posters like Folies Bergere poster advertising an evening of Spectacular variety. She can also be seen and sipping from a champagne flute on the famous Champagne de Rochecre poster.
Owning a Piece of History: The Rarity of Original Posters
Original vintage posters hold a special allure, offering a tangible connection to the past. They can be valuable investments, appreciating in worth over time. However, acquiring an original can be quite expensive, often out of reach for most collectors.
The Beauty of High-Quality Reproductions: Bringing Art into Your Home
Here’s where our high-quality reproductions come in. Offering a cost-effective alternative, these stunning prints capture the essence of the original Ofelia Perfumerie poster with exceptional detail. Imagine this iconic piece adorning your living room wall, adding a touch of French sophistication to your space.
Order your reproduction Ofelia Perfumerie poster today and experience the timeless allure of art and fragrance!
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This captivating Ofelia Perfumerie poster was created by Leonetto Cappiello in 1906. The renowned French artist and lithographerbegan his career at the end of the 19th century as a caricaturist illustrating in the ‘Le Rire’ journal. He then went on to become a cartoonist and caricaturist of celebrities of the time in ‘Le Cri de Paris’, ‘Le Sourire’, ‘L’Assiette au Beurre’ and other magazines. His early caricature style, influenced by Henri Toulouse–Lautrec,the most famous artist of the time is the artistic style prevalent on most of Cappiello’s early poster designs.
His first poster, for the newspaper Frou-Frou, was made in 1899. Cappiello’s career as a poster artist began in earnest in 1900 when he began a contract with the French printer Pierre Vercasson. In this period, the printers would act as agents for artists and commission work to them. Vercasson had a print house, and his goal was to bring vibrancy and colour to the streets of Paris, he wanted the posters that he produced to stand out from the rest and attract lucrative new advertisers to his agency.
Although his style changed considerably during his career, the cartoonish style employed on this early Ofelia Perfumerie poster is a startling contrast to the painterly style of the leading advertising poster artists of the time such as Jules Cheret, Alfred Choubrac, and Hugo D’Alesi. Cappiello’s posters featured bold, striking figures painted in vivid, flat colours, popping out of black backgrounds. Cappiello was the first artist to do this.
Cappiello’s Ofelia Perfumerie poster depicts a striking image of a Spanish señora carrying a bouquet of fragrant flowers. Cappiello probably took his inspiration for the character from Shakespeare’s play, Ophelia from the play Hamlet. In the play Ophelia descends into a state of madness, singing disjointed songs and giving away imaginary flowers.
Here, against a vivid, eye-catching deep red background Cappielli portrays a captivating red-haired woman in a long green hourglass dress adorned with vertical black stripes. The elegantly dressed young woman sniffs the air like a professional perfumer, smelling the aroma given off by the huge bouquet in her arms. The vast array of flowers, herbs, and spices form the ingredients that make up the beautiful scent of the ‘La Giranda’ brand of perfume manufactured by Ofelia Perfumerie. La Giralda perfume was named after the bell tower of Seville Cathedral in the company’s hometown of Seville, Spain.
Cappiello was well-known for portraying several of the era’s top stars in his poster designs. These include French artists, actress Gabrielle Réjane, singer, actress, and diseuse Odette Dulac, and the singer Louise Balthy.
We can’t be sure which of his popular models Cappiello used to pose for the poster, however, she bears a striking resemblance to the French soprano Jeanne Granier. For 20 years Granier was one of the biggest musical stars in Paris.
The gifted actress and singer was a regular model for Cappiello. Not only does Granier appear in many cartoon drawings, but she also appears to be the model for many of his early poster designs. Among these include his Livorno Stagione Balneare print, the Novita per Signora advertising poster for E.A. Mele & Co. She makes an appearance on Cappiello’s Pur Champagne Damery Epernay affiche and the Grands Chais Medoc print for L Segol et Fils. Others include one for the Folies Bergere poster advertising an evening of Spectacular variety, a print advertising Corset le Furet, one for Amandine Biscuits for H Lalo and sipping from a champagne flute on the famous Champagne de Rochecre poster.
Of course, if you can find an original copy and can afford to buy it, you’re on to a winner. There’s nothing like owning an original vintage poster and they often make a great investment. Chances are in just a few years you’ll be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. Unfortunately, for most of us, an investment, even at the entry-level prices of the collectible poster isn’t even close to being a possibility.
This is where our stunning high-quality reproductions come into their own. They cost a fraction of an original and look absolutely fantastic when they’re framed and hung on your living room wall. Our superb reproduction print means you have a copy of this poster hanging on your wall in just a few days. Add a touch of French flair to your living room, dressing room, or bedroom. Order your reproduction Ofelia Perfumerie posterprint today!
