Torrilhon began as a dry-goods shop in Clermont-Ferrand and was making waterproofed rubber goods by 1852, and by 1906 its mascot was a devil. The company was active until 1937. It moved into tyre production as the automobile market expanded. That year it commissioned Leonetto Cappiello (1875 to 1942) to design this poster, and Vercasson & Cie of Paris lithographed it. Cappiello's method was one bold figure on a black ground, with no decorative scaffolding.
On the poster
A crimson devil's head, framed within a silver-grey tyre ring, looks out from a flat black ground. It has small horns, pointed ears, green cat-like eyes and two thin feelers rising above the rim. Below, "PNEUMATIQUES TORRILHON" (Torrilhon tyres) is set in bold yellow slab-serif type, with "CLERMONT-FERRAND" in red capitals beneath.
About this print
A digitally restored reproduction, printed on 200gsm Enhanced Matte Fine Art paper with pigment inks.

