NOEL FONTANET (1898-1982) 7ME. SALON INTERNATIONAL DE L'AUTOMOBILE ET DU CYCLE / GENEVE. 1930. 50 1/4x35 inches, 127 1/2x89 cm. "Sonor" S.A., Geneva. Condition B+ / B: repaired tears and creases at edges, some affecting image; abrasions, restoration, overpainting and staining in margins, image and text; markings in lower image. Mounted on paper. Fontanet was the most prominent and successful artist of the Geneva school of graphic designers. Contrary to the Swiss artists from Basel and Zurich, the Geneva school was largely inspired by French Art Deco. Fontanet was also the director of the Societe Generale d'Affichage, a large outdoor advertising company which also provided artwork for their clients. Here, he cleverly evokes Mercury's winged helmet using the front end of a speeding car adding the essence of style and elegance via the use of metallic gold ink.
