Sale 214 Lot 390

Funicolare - Drahtseilbahn Monte San Salvatore Lugano
Franco BARBERIS
1940 NOTE: Poster exhibits wear and minor discoloration. It is not backed on linen or laid down. 39 1/4 x 27 1/2 in. (99.7 x 69.9 cm.)
$150-200

ARTIST PROFILE: Franco Barberis (1905–1992) was a versatile Italian-Swiss graphic designer, fashion creator, and cartoonist who became a central figure in the mid-century landscape of Swiss commercial art. Born in Lugano, Barberis began his career as a designer for the iconic shoe brand Bally in the 1920s before transitioning into a successful freelance career as an illustrator for influential publications such as Sport and the satirical magazine Nebelspalter. He is perhaps most widely recognized for his whimsical and vibrant travel posters, particularly those promoting winter sports and summer tourism in destinations like St. Moritz, Lugano, and the Bernese Oberland. His work—often characterized by bold lithography and playful imagery, such as his famous 1948 St. Moritz racing poster—seamlessly blended high-fashion sensibilities with a distinct sense of humor. Today, Barberis's posters are considered quintessential examples of Swiss modernist design, celebrated for their ability to evoke the spirited atmosphere of early 20th-century European travel.