Poudre De Luzy 1919

This is Leonetto Cappiello’s advertisement poster for Poudre de Luzy, and it’s got this amazing bold color palette. The rich, deep blue, the bright green and red of the dress, they really grab your eye, which is the point, right? The whole thing has this loose, gestural feel, which makes it seem really immediate, even though it’s probably carefully planned. I love how the texture of the fur contrasts with the smooth surface of the woman's skin. Look at how Cappiello uses these diagonal strokes to create a sense of depth and movement in the background. It’s almost like he’s suggesting a kind of atmospheric haze, which makes the figure stand out even more. The dark purplish area where the woman is holding something, maybe the titular powder, is so luscious. You can almost feel the softness of the material. Cappiello’s posters remind me of Toulouse-Lautrec in their use of bold color. Art’s not a solo act, it’s an ongoing conversation!