Exposition internationale Arts et Techniques 1937

Leonetto Cappiello made this poster for the Paris International Exposition in 1937, though the medium he used is unknown to me. The color palette is both bold and muted, a dark blue background is offset with light-blue classical figures holding up the flame of progress. There's a wonderful tension between the sharp geometric shapes and the more organic curves of the figures and flames. The layers of color in those waving lines, reds, blues, yellows, like ribbons, give the piece movement and depth, a kind of optimism for the future. That flame they hold, though, it's not just one color, but a swirl of oranges and yellows, which gives it a chaotic, lively feel. I can see how this relates to other art deco-ish posters of the time, like Cassandre, but Cappiello has a flair for the dramatic and a playful spirit all his own. It reminds us that art is not just about clean lines, but about the messy, beautiful process of bringing ideas to life. It’s about embracing ambiguity and not always having a fixed meaning.