Vintage Oriental Rug Advertisement Postcard

The text on this poster states – loosely translated – that “A La Place Clichy” is the premier house for Oriental imports. The poster was done by Eugène Samuel Grasset. Grasset was a French illustrator, decorative artist and printmaker of Swiss birth who worked in Paris, France in a variety of creative design fields during the Belle Époque. While in his twenties, he devoted himself to painting and sculpture; after moving to Paris, he went on to design fabrics and ceramics, as we as jewelry. His decorative talents made him one of the outstanding contributors to the Art Nouveau movement. He is considered a pioneer in Art Nouveau design. Grasset found a natural affinity for poster design, which led to commissions from American companies that appreciated his skills. He even created his own typeface, “Grasset”, for use on his posters.