Cognac Pellisson 1907

This poster, Cognac Pellisson, by Leonetto Cappiello, uses lithography, a printmaking technique where the image is drawn on stone, treated, and then printed. The color palette here is so striking! The bright yellows and oranges pop right off that dark background, don’t they? It’s all about contrast. It's as if Cappiello took a color wheel and decided to play with opposites. Now, check out that barrel the figure is struggling with. You can almost feel the weight of it, but it's also so playful, like a cartoon. Look at how the light hits the barrel versus how the shadow outlines the little red-haired figure. Do you notice that the highlights and shadows aren't exactly realistic? It’s like Cappiello is saying, “Hey, this is a poster, not a photograph, let's have some fun with it!” This piece reminds me a bit of Toulouse-Lautrec's posters, both in its boldness and its embrace of commercial art. But Cappiello has his own unique, joyful spin. Art’s a conversation, isn’t it?