BARBISIO HAT POSTER

This vintage Italian lithograph from 1948 advertises Barbisio hats, with a fedora shown by itself near the bottom of the lithograph. But the eye is not drawn to the hat. Rather, it's drawn to an adorable white Westie pup in a red cloud-like shape, wearing a blue collar and bell and looking off to the side.  Without the cute dog, the poster would not merit a second glance, as a poster featuring a black hat doesn't catch the eye.  Add in a cute dog, and the poster is at least noticed perhaps long enough for the viewer to admire the hat as well as the dog. The wonderful juxtaposition of dog and hat shows how advertising is indeed an art which, if well executed, succeeds in its goals. 

The company name Barbisio is shown below the hat, and below the name is the company's motto: "un nome - una marca - una garanzia" which translates from the Italian as "a name - a brand - a guarantee."  Italian artist Giovanni Mingozzi designed this poster, and in the upper left corner is the notation: "Studio Mingozzi Bologna"