Apr 24 at 12:00 PM - Sale 2702 -

Sale 2702 - Lot 61

Estimate: $ 4,000 - $ 6,000

NOËL FONTANET (1898-1982)

FINE CALVADOS. Circa 1930.

50¾x36 inches, 129x91½ cm. Sonor, Geneva.
Condition A-: minor repaired tears and creases at edges. Framed.

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, three identical magenta faces pucker their lips to sample the beverage; the extreme height of their top hats mimics the slender stems of the glasses, constantly drawing the eye upward" (Crouse p. 195). Fontanet echoes this composition and theme in his 1934 poster for Morgafarin, but there, he abandons the sleek art deco simplicity for a more cartoon-like depiction of three chefs in their tall chef hats (See Swann sale 2476, Lot 29). Rare.

Crouse p. 195.
Request Condition Report Set Alert for Similar Items

Also in This Catalogue