The Attic #36 ✦ Fix-Masseau

Hey there, friend,

Seems like time is flying, it’s already cosy season and soon to be Christmas. How is your Sunday going? Are you in need of some inspiration? Well, I can help with that if you’d like. Keep reading!

Today I’m introducing you to a French poster artist who was one of the leading poster designers of Art Deco, then we’ll see a cute poster for the Post Office, a boogie woogie album cover, a catchy TV commercial and a cute naïve magazine ad.

Let’s go!

✧An illustrator: Fix-Masseau✧

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - 1938 - Bon voyage, bonne neige

Pierre Fix-Masseau (1905-1994), the son of French sculptor Pierre Félix Masseau, was a leading poster designer in the Art Deco period.

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - 1937 - Le Mont St. Michel

He studied at École Boulle and École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and in 1927, while working at Nortier, Fix-Masseau published an ad in Nord Magazine that was noted by Cassandre who had made the cover of the magazine.

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - 1928

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - 1988 - Côte d’Azur

Due to this, he was invited by Cassandre himself to be an intern at his studio in Versailles for a short period.

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - 1929 - Exactitude

Being one of the creators of iconic railway posters, “Exactitude” from 1929 is Fix-Masseau’s most known and celebrated work, though I discovered his work when I saw the posters for Cigarettes Gitanes and Disque Bleu.

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - ca. 1960 - Cigarettes Gitanes et Disque bleu Caporal

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - ca. 1960 - Réfrigérateurs Philips

To be honest, I love his Art Deco works just as much as these more cartoony pieces. What do you think? Do you prefer one to the other?

I LOVE discovering that a completely different style is done by the same person. As someone who likes to work in a couple of different styles and try new things, it’s always reassuring to see other artists manage to do excellent work in different styles.

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - ca. 1950 - Transistors Philips

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - ca. 1950 - Transistors Philips

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - 1965 - Conord

Pierre FIX-MASSEAU - 1982 - Orient Express

✧A poster: You have a good idea, share it✧

BURRELL - 1965 - The Post Office

✧An album: Boogie-Woogie✧

WESTERVELT - 1954 - Boogie Woogie by Will Bradley with Ray McKinley

✧A commercial: Speedy Way 79✧

Extremely catchy tune, and cute character design and animations.

✧An ad: Ovomaltine✧

1960s - Ovomaltine

And yes, this is the end of this month’s letter, but don’t worry, I’ll see you in the next one quite soon!

In the meantime, you can also check the links and I hope you enjoyed the read.

Talk to you soon,
Viu

✧The links✧

✦ Art Deco from the 1930s and 1980s - Retours
✦ Pierre Fix-Masseau - ArtCloud
✦ Internal Posters - Postal Museum