Bugatti 1935

Curator: Instantly, I feel the thrill of speed and power just looking at this poster. It’s A.M. Cassandre's "Bugatti" from 1935. Notice the Art Deco flair, the sleek lines. The combination of horse and machine suggests so much. What grabs you first? Editor: The geometry! The way Cassandre reduces everything to its essence – the curve of the horse’s neck becoming part of the car itself. It's clever but also, in its simplification, feels almost… sterile. There’s a disconnect, perhaps a reflection of the machine age dehumanizing us. Curator: Sterile? I find it invigorating! It's the epitome of streamlining, celebrating technology. Cassandre's use of flat planes and bold typography is iconic, turning advertising into high art. He's not just selling a car, he's selling a dream, an escape. Think of the historical context—Europe between the wars, the rise of industry. A Bugatti was more than transportation. Editor: And precisely for whom was this dream intended? Let’s talk about accessibility. These were luxury cars, symbols of wealth during times of economic hardship for many. Is Cassandre inadvertently highlighting the widening chasm between the classes through this idealized imagery? The ‘purity’ the text hints at likely reflected who Bugatti’s consumers were. Curator: That’s a valid reading. But I'd also argue that Cassandre captures a sense of optimism, a forward-thinking spirit. The visual language speaks of efficiency and progress. Editor: Sure, efficiency and progress—for some. But if we're interrogating the historical impact, this imagery reinforces exclusivity and perhaps even a certain male-dominated vision of progress. How do women figure into this picture of speed and power? Likely as accessories to the ‘masculine’ car in a patriarchal society. Curator: You always bring such a nuanced perspective. Perhaps the enduring appeal of the poster lies in that tension – a celebration of modernity tinged with an awareness of its social complexities. Editor: And maybe that's why art like this continues to provoke dialogue—revealing both our aspirations and our blind spots. It's never just about the surface.