Nicolas

First draft, gouache on paper

160 x 120cm

1927

French poster advertising in this period often made use of humorous figures that personified the brand, cultivated by each company to be lovable characters and to make the brand instantly recognisable. Known as personnages, they enjoyed great success in the French imagination. Here, Loupot took up the traditional Nectar figure for the winemerchant Nicolas. Nectar is turned to directly face outwards, and his body is stylised into a geometric outline. This idea of the personnage that can be identified through silhouette online is perhaps an early working out of a formula that would take full fruition in his work for the portly waiters of St-Raphaël.