Iris
1895
Adolfo Hohenstein, often called the father of the Italian poster, created this striking advertisement for Pietro Mascagni’s opera 'Iris'. A woman in a flowing red robe seems to be swept away through a field of tall purple flowers, while ghostly faces emerge from the swirling green smoke above her. The bold, graphic style is a perfect example of Art Nouveau—specifically the Italian 'Liberty' style—blending dramatic storytelling with decorative floral elements. The opera itself is set in Japan, tapping into the late 19th-century craze for all things Japanese, known as Japonisme.
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