Franz Joseph Lenhart was one of the main representatives of Italian poster art in the first half of the 20th century, together with Gino Boccasile, Severo Pozzati (Sepo) and Fortunato Depero. Born in 1898 in Bad Häring, Austria, he first studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. His success as a poster artist came when ENIT, the National Tourist Board, bought one of his posters, “Visitate le Dolomiti” and had it put up all over Italy. His style is elegant and modern. The design is closely linked to the lettering, which forms the basis of the poster and becomes an integral part of the promotional message. An example of superb refinement is given by the 1936 lithographic poster of “Modiano, Cartine e tubetti per sigarette” (150 x 100 cm, A condition, estimated value €4,000 – €8,000). Here the silhouette of the elegant and haughty female figure is built with a calibrated graphic play of black and green solids and voids where the white cigarette stands out like Art Deco graphics.
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