April 18, 2023
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Achille Lucien
Mauzan (Gap, Hautes-Alpes, 1883 - Gap, 1952) was born
on the French Riviera, but moved to Italy in 1905, known as
a decorative illustrator designing during the Art Deco
movement, though he also painted and sculpted.
After a period of study in the École des Beaux Arts at
Lyon, France, Mauzan divided his life between Milan, Paris
and Buenos Aires. Between the years 1920 and 1940, the
period between the wars, he used forms and materials under
the influence of the avant garde cubists. He was also an
illustrator of posters and postcards.
During his career as a poster printer and designer,
Mauzan designed over 2,000 posters, using a style marked
by humor and brilliant colors for advertisement and events
and over 1,000 postcard images. He made several important
posters for the Italian film industry in Turin, and then
went to work at Ricordi music publishing from 1912 to
1917. Later, from 1919 to 1923 he worked in the Magical
press (Giovanni Magagnoli). In 1924 in Milan he
established with Morzenti his own publishing house, the
Mauzan - Morzenti Agency. In 1926 he traveled to Argentina
where he set up the “Affiches Mauzan” (Mauzan Posters)
publishing house where many of his greatest works were
created and where he worked until 1932. Within those
years, Gino Boccasile, one of his students in Milan,
traveled to Argentina at his insistence and set up
a studio. Mauzan is also noted for designing several war
posters including an adaptation of the famous Lord
Kitchener poster.
- 1905 : Traveled to Italy, where he settled and
started working. His productions were essentially
illustrations of magazines, postcards, bronze or plaster
ceramics. After moving to Turin he turned to production
in the newly formed film industry. As an outstanding
lithographer, he produced about 1500 posters of films
between 1909 and 1913, including posters of silent
films.
- 1912 to 1917: Worked in Milan for Ricordi, a music
publishing company.
- 1914 to 1918: (World War I): Designed postcards and
posters on loan.
- 1919 to 1923: Worked for Maga printing and publisher
(Giovanni Magagnoli).
- 1924 to 1927: Founded with Angelo Morzenti his own
publishing house for his posters: Agence Mauzan -
Morzenti, (Mauzan - Morzenti
Agency).
- 1927: Departure to Buenos Aires, where he organized an
exhibition, promoting its own talent. He founded his own
company, Editorial Affiches Mauzan (Editorial
Mauzan Posters), and produced numerous posters. Thus,
reaches the figure of 2,000 posters produced and
published.
- 1930: Through his talent, he joined with Cosmos
advertising agency, "the largest advertising agency in
South America", and created a new department: Nuevos
Affiches Cosmos (New Cosmos Posters).
- 1931: Organized the exhibition New Trade Expo of the
Food Industry and embarked on a project with the
Historical Museum in Buenos Aires.
- 1932: Left Argentina to join his wife who died in
Italy. During his five years spent in Buenos Aires, he
left a deep mark in the poster art in Argentina, where
his reputation remains enormous.
- 1933: After a vague period, he moved to Paris, where
he remained rather unknown. Artists like Cappiello, Jean d'Ylen, Cassandre, Loupot, Carlu and Colin were having
more media exposure, his production was very sporadic.
- 1933 to 1935: Under contract with the Société
Générale Publicité, (General Advertising Company)
and with Paris - Affiches, (Paris - Posters)
- 1939 to 1945 (World War II): After commuting between
Paris and Gap, he retired in the latter where he devoted
himself entirely to his first love: painting.
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