JEAN CARLU (1900-1997) LAROUSSE. Gouache maquette. 1954. 41x31 inches. Condition B+: wrinkles, creases and abrasions in image. Painted on board. France's leading publisher of dictionaries, Larousse, hired Carlu to be their Art Director in the early 1950s. It was to be his last major involvement in advertising. For their advertising he created a stylized image of Santa Claus which was used in all sorts of advertising over the course of many years. This original gouache is the maquette for the first appearance of the new Christmas campaign in 1954. It remains a classic example of 1950s French advertising. Carlu 85 (actual poster).
