Mario Puppo – Sestrières

Sestrières — Offset Lithographic Poster in Colours, c.1980

• Artist: After Mario Puppo (Italian, 1905–1977)
• Medium: Offset lithographic poster in colours
• Date: c.1980 Dimensions: 99 × 68 cm (39 × 27 in)
• Country: Italia
• Condition: A (excellent)
• Backed: Yes 

The Sestrières offset lithographic poster in colours, after Mario Puppo, is a rare and visually luminous example of late twentieth-century Italian travel and ski poster design — a large-format colour offset lithograph produced in Italy around 1980, backed, and preserved in condition A. Produced after the original composition of Mario Puppo — one of the most celebrated, prolific, and technically accomplished Italian graphic artists of the mid-twentieth century, and among the defining figures in the history of Italian travel and tourism poster design — this poster brings the full chromatic brilliance, graphic elegance, and evocative power of Puppo's visual language to bear on one of the most celebrated and visually spectacular alpine ski destinations in Europe.

Mario Puppo occupies a distinguished and well-established place in the history of Italian graphic art and travel poster design. Born in Genoa in 1905, Puppo developed over a long and prolific career a visual language of exceptional chromatic richness, graphic refinement, and atmospheric sensitivity — producing travel and tourism posters for the Italian railways, the Italian State Tourist Office, and the leading alpine and coastal resort destinations of Italy that are today among the most sought-after and widely collected works in the history of Italian graphic design. His ski and mountain posters — characterized by a luminous handling of alpine light, a bold and confident graphic economy, and a capacity to evoke the physical sensation and emotional exhilaration of winter sport with a vividness and immediacy that is entirely his own — represent some of the finest and most collectible examples of the mid-twentieth-century European ski poster tradition.

The work is in condition A — excellent. Full condition report available upon request.

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FAQ

Who is Mario Puppo? Mario Puppo — born in Genoa in 1905 and died in 1977 — was one of the most celebrated, prolific, and technically accomplished Italian graphic artists of the mid-twentieth century, producing travel and tourism posters for the Italian railways, the Italian State Tourist Office, and the leading alpine and coastal resort destinations of Italy. His ski and mountain posters, characterized by luminous handling of alpine light and bold graphic economy, are today among the most sought-after works in the history of Italian graphic design.

What does "after Mario Puppo" mean? The designation "after Mario Puppo" indicates that this offset lithographic poster was produced after — that is, based upon and reproducing — an original composition by Mario Puppo. This is a standard and well-established terminology in the description of vintage posters and printed works, confirming the authorship of the original design while acknowledging that the printed object is a lithographic reproduction of that design.

What is Sestrières? Sestrières is a celebrated alpine ski resort established in the Piedmontese Alps by Giovanni Agnelli, founder of the Fiat automobile empire, in the early 1930s. Conceived as a resort of the highest ambition and design quality, it rapidly became one of the premier ski destinations in Europe — hosting major international ski competitions and attracting the international jet set and Italian cultural elite. It is one of the most visually iconic and historically resonant alpine resort destinations in the history of European winter sport.

What printing technique was used? The poster is an offset lithograph in colours — a technically sophisticated printing process that allows for the faithful reproduction of chromatically rich, graphically refined compositions with exceptional colour fidelity and surface quality, representing the standard of high-quality travel poster production of the period.

What does condition A mean? Condition A denotes excellent condition — the highest standard in the grading system used for vintage posters, indicating that the impression is in outstanding state of preservation with no significant defects, losses, or restoration.

What does backed mean? Backing is a standard conservation practice for vintage posters, in which the poster is mounted onto a supporting material to ensure its long-term structural integrity, facilitate display and handling, and protect the paper from further deterioration.

What are the dimensions of the piece? 99 × 68 cm (39 × 27 in)

Is the work framed? No. The poster is presented unframed.

What makes this poster a compelling acquisition? The Sestrières poster after Mario Puppo represents a rare convergence of exceptional subject matter — one of the most celebrated and historically resonant alpine ski destinations in Europe — outstanding chromatic quality and graphic elegance from one of Italy's most distinguished travel poster artists, and a state of preservation — condition A, backed — that makes this a fully displayable and museum-quality acquisition for serious collectors of vintage ski and travel poster art.

Is this artwork a good investment? Vintage ski and alpine travel posters by major Italian graphic artists — particularly those depicting celebrated resort destinations in excellent condition — are among the most consistently sought-after works in the vintage poster market. Mario Puppo's ski posters command strong and growing collector interest, and this example, in condition A, represents a compelling acquisition opportunity for serious collectors of Italian graphic art and vintage winter sport imagery.

Is worldwide shipping available? Absolutely. We offer secure worldwide shipping from France with professional packaging, tracking, and insurance.