Colin 1903

Leonetto Cappiello made this poster for "Colin" using lithography, and the colors really pop, don't they? There's a boldness here, like a quick sketch that just gets it right without overthinking. I’m drawn to the flatness of the figures and how Cappiello uses color to define shapes instead of outlines. The black dress of the woman is so graphic, almost like a cutout, yet it has this incredible energy because of the way it interacts with the lighter background and the other figures. Notice the way the black ink pools and bleeds around the edges of the letters, giving it this kind of tactile quality. It reminds me of Milton Glaser's posters, that same sense of playfulness and immediacy. But Cappiello has a certain European flair, a nod to Art Nouveau, that gives his work a unique flavor. It feels both modern and timeless, proof that art is always a conversation, with artists borrowing and riffing off each other across generations.