Anisetta Evangelisti 1925 Italian Liqueur Advertising Art Print

Artist Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia, the man who would later found Italy’s national automobile museum, was the creative mind behind this whimsical 1925 design. In This print, a clever chimpanzee is perched atop a rustic wooden crate, tilting back a glass bottle of the famous dessert liqueur. The composition is set against a high-contrast canary yellow background that makes the rich, dark fur of the primate and the bubblegum pink typography practically leap off the page. It is a masterclass in early 20th-century Italian poster design, blending absurdist humor with clean, effective commercial lines that refuse to be ignored.

During the Roaring Twenties, liquor advertisements in Europe shifted away from stuffy portraits and toward the playfully unexpected. This artwork captures that shift perfectly, evoking a sense of joy and mischief that was characteristic of the era’s nightlife culture. Looking at it doesn’t just reveal a brand; it invites you into a world of carefree indulgence and Italian ‘dolce vita.’ The use of a primate as a brand mascot was a bold, memorable choice that helped the Evangelisti label stand out in a crowded market of traditional spirits, creating a lasting legacy of visual wit.

It earns its spot in a wall of art deco advertising posters, with retro bar wall art making an easy companion.