This advertising poster was created by Alfredo Capitani in 1933. Capitani was an Italian scenographer, graphic designer, and painter who specialized in commercial and cinema posters during the interwar and postwar decades.
Capitani established his poster studio in 1919 and became a prominent figure in Italian advertising design. He collaborated with major film studios, including the American companies MGM, Fox, and Columbia Pictures, as well as Italian producers. His work encompassed large-scale cinema posters and murals displayed in theaters across Italy and beyond. Among his notable poster designs were those for films including Gilda, Moby Dick, Oceano rosso, and Sfida infernale. Capitani continued his work as a poster designer until 1960, when he shifted his focus entirely to painting. He died in Rome in 1985 at the age of ninety.
About Alfredo Capitani
Born in Ciampino in 1895, Capitani trained in scenography at the Accademia Inglese di Belle Arti in Rome. He began his career designing stage sets for theaters before transitioning to commercial poster design. In the 1920s, he founded the Maralca company with fellow artist Luigi Martinati to promote and distribute films, establishing himself as a key figure in cinema advertising during Italy’s golden age of commercial graphic design.
Details
- Creator: Alfredo Capitani (1895–1985)
- Year: 1933
- Object type: advertising poster
- Career span: active in poster design 1919–1960
Frequently asked questions
Who was Alfredo Capitani?
Alfredo Capitani was an Italian scenographer, graphic designer, and painter born in Ciampino in 1895. He trained in scenography at the Accademia Inglese di Belle Arti in Rome and became prominent in commercial poster design, working for major Italian and American film studios until 1960.
What kind of posters did Capitani design?
Capitani specialized in cinema advertising posters, creating large-scale designs for both Italian and American film companies including MGM, Fox, and Columbia Pictures. His work included posters for films such as Gilda, Moby Dick, and Oceano rosso.
When did Capitani stop working as a poster designer?
Capitani ceased his activity as a poster designer in 1960 and devoted himself to painting until his death in Rome in 1985 at ninety years of age.
