Cointreau Liqueur | 1930

Cointreau Liqueur, 1930, by Charles Loupot

This striking Art Deco poster features a stylized female Pierrot clown figure with a distinctive black nose clip, rendered in abstracted white and yellow circular forms against a pale yellow background. The character appears to embrace a large, prominently displayed bottle of Cointreau liqueur that dominates the centre of the composition. The bottle's detailed label is clearly visible, highlighting the product's origins in Angers, France. Red circular accents punctuate the design, creating visual balance, while the bold black "COINTREAU" text anchors the bottom of the poster. Loupot's signature appears discreetly in the upper left corner, dated 1930, with the edition information "Les belles affiches" noted at the bottom.

Cointreau, established in 1849 by brothers Adolphe and Édouard-Jean Cointreau, had become a globally recognised brand by the 1930s. The orange-flavoured triple sec liqueur was made from a precise blend of sweet and bitter orange peels, creating a crystal-clear spirit that was distinctive in an era of coloured liqueurs. The Pierrot character had been associated with Cointreau since 1898, when the brand established its in-house advertising studio and created this iconic mascot. For this 1930 poster, Cointreau commissioned Loupot to refresh their imagery with a more modern interpretation of Pierrot. The use of vibrant orange tones in the design cleverly references the citrus fruit that provides the liqueur's distinctive flavour, whilst the Art Deco styling reflects the sophisticated consumer market the brand was targeting during this period.

Charles Loupot (1892-1962) was one of France's most celebrated poster artists of the 20th century, alongside contemporaries like A.M. Cassandre, Paul Colin, and Jean Carlu. Born in Nice and educated at the École des Beaux-arts de Lyon, Loupot began his career in Switzerland before returning to France after World War I. In 1925, he was selected as one of four official poster artists to represent the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, the event that gave Art Deco its name. Loupot's distinctive style evolved throughout his career, incorporating influences from Cubism and Fauvism.