Mad Men and Crazy Critters, 2nd episode - Sweetly Swiss

Dalang egg noodles, 1952, Suchard Milka chocolate, 1949

Herbert Leupin (1916-1999), one of the greatest and most prolific Swiss poster artists,

 studied in Basel and in the Paris school of Art Deco poster artist Paul Colin. After his

 return to Switzerland in 1937 he started working as a graphic artist. At first his work 

was hyperrealistic and influenced by Object Poster aesthetics. During the fifties, 

his most productive years, he developed a more humorous and whimsical personal style. 

Leupin's cheerful and brightly colored posters had a stunning visual impact, and 

the new approach became enormously successful in commercial art. This advertising

 genius can be compared to Leonetto Cappiello in his ability to express the essence of 

a product through visual metaphors, although his images also possess a gentle childlike

 appeal lacking in Cappiello's work. Many of the pictures featured in this post come from

 the large collection at the International poster gallery, where they are available for sale.

Pelikan pen, 1952

Eptinger sparkling water and Pepita grapefruit soda, 1949-52

Pepita grapefruit soda, 1951-5

Rössli cigars, 1954

Knie circus and Kolynos toothpaste, 1959-60

Bell grocery store chain, 1968-9

Lion lithograph, 1980s