LUCIO VENNA (GIUSEPPE LANDSMANN, 1897-1974) JAZZ - BANDOPOLI / VEGLIONISSIMO DELLA STAMPA. 1928.
52 1/2x37 1/2 inches, 133 1/2x95 1/4 cm. Studio Venna Innocenti, Firenze.
Condition B+ / B: repaired tears, minor restored losses, creases and overpainting in margins and along vertical and horizontal folds and seam; bleached spots in upper right image. Two-sheets.
Venna was a painter and a poster designer who was drawn to Futurism as early as 1914. In 1919 he had work exhibited at the Great National Futurist Exhibition in Milan, which had been organized by Marinetti. By 1922, Venna had dedicated himself to the field of advertising, and over the course of the next fifteen years he designed dozens of posters, advertisements and calendars. He used flat tones and bright colors in his work, much of which bears the influence of Futurism as well as Art Deco design. He had the ability to depict speed and motion in an attractive and dynamic way and many of his posters were for car races or automotive events. This rare poster is one of his best. While it might be hyperbole to think that this one-night Jazz event in Florence was similar to the Bal Nègre, which had taken in place in Paris almost a year earlier, it is difficult not to make that comparison. The Cubist treatment is reminiscent of Depero, but less static with a wonderful swinging sense of movement. We could find no other copies at auction.