Vintage Poster Archives
Mele Naples Fashion 1902 | Cappiello Art Nouveau Poster
Mele Naples Fashion 1902 | Cappiello Art Nouveau Poster
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An elegant couple dances in Belle Époque finery, the woman resplendent in a red dress with white fur stole and green-feathered hat, her partner in formal black with top hat. Set against a rich dark green background, the composition radiates the sophistication of early 20th-century Italian fashion.
Designed by Leonetto Cappiello for E. & A. Mele & Ci, the pioneering Naples department store, in 1902. The Mele brothers transformed Italian retail by bringing Parisian-style glamour to the growing Italian middle class. Cappiello created this as part of his revolutionary approach to advertising design, moving beyond mere decoration to create memorable brand imagery.
The poster exemplifies Art Nouveau commercial art at its peak, when department stores commissioned leading artists rather than agencies. Printed by Milan's prestigious Officine Grafiche Ricordi, it represents the golden age of Italian lithographic poster production.
A natural fit for collectors drawn to the intersection of art and commerce, or anyone who appreciates the Belle Époque era when advertising aspired to fine art.
