Van Nelles Tobacco (Van Nelles Tabak) 1920

Jac Jongert created this vibrant advertisement for Van Nelles Tobacco, a Dutch company, using bold colors and graphic elements. Jongert was involved in the Dutch Werkbund, an organization that sought to elevate the quality of industrial design. The poster reflects early 20th-century debates about commercial art's role in shaping consumer culture and national identity. The black and white typeface contrasts against the reds and yellows to grab your attention. The smoke rising towards the lettering feels both modern and sensual. The bright yellow color, the geometric patterns, and floral motifs speak to the ways in which tobacco companies marketed their products across class lines. Advertisements like these played a significant role in promoting smoking as a glamorous and socially acceptable practice. The poster invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, commerce, and public health, and perhaps even our own habits and desires.