Bénédictine 1907

This is Leonetto Cappiello’s advertisement for Bénédictine liqueur, and it’s all about setting a mood. The color palette is really controlled, with the figure's red outfit contrasting against the cool blues and browns. It’s a simple but powerful way of capturing your attention. I love the way the artist uses light in this image. The lantern held by the figure doesn't just illuminate; it transforms the whole scene, creating a focal point that draws you into the quiet mystery of the night. The bottle, though small, anchors the composition and tempts you to imagine a taste. The buildings in the background are all lit up, suggesting a distant dream or a memory. Cappiello reminds me of Toulouse-Lautrec, in the way he’s using commercial imagery to create a lasting image that's more about feeling than selling. Like all good art, it leaves you with more questions than answers, and makes you want to fill in the blanks.