Date: 2002
Size: interior- 5 x 7 inches; with matting- 10.25 x 12 inches
Artist: Vittorio Fiorucci
About the artist: Vittorio (Vittorio Fiorucci, 1932-2008) was an influential Canadian graphic designer and poster artist, best known for his vibrant, playful, and often satirical style. Born in Zara, Italy (now Zadar, Croatia), he immigrated to Montreal in 1951, where he became a central figure in the city’s flourishing art and design scene. Over his prolific career, Vittorio produced hundreds of posters for cultural institutions, film festivals, and theater companies, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival and Centaur Theatre.
His work is instantly recognizable for its bold color palettes, expressive linework, and witty visual storytelling. Beyond posters, Vittorio also created illustrations, comic art, and the iconic green Just for Laughs festival mascot. A member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, his designs captured the exuberant, cosmopolitan spirit of postwar Montreal and continue to influence Canadian visual culture today.
About this piece: This postcard is a reissue of a poster from 1999, advertising the Opera of Montreal's performance of Les Contes d'Hoffmann (the Tales of Hoffmann), composed by Offenbach. The Tales of Hoffmann follows the poet Hoffmann as he recounts three fantastical stories of doomed love—with an automaton, a fragile singer, and a courtesan—each reflecting his struggle between artistic idealism and human desire. Matted and ready to frame!