{"product_id":"delhaize-freres-vintage-coffee-poster-by-herman-richir-1898","title":"Delhaize Frères Vintage Coffee Poster by Herman Richir, 1898","description":"\u003cp\u003eHerman Richir’s \u003cem\u003eAu Bon Marché Delhaize Frères Le Café\u003c\/em\u003e, created in 1898, turns an advertisement for coffee into an elaborate piece of visual theatre. A centrally placed figure in richly patterned traditional dress raises a coffee pot, from which fine curls of steam appear to rise. Warm umbers, toasted orange and cream dominate the design, while touches of muted red and green enliven the jewellery, textiles and floral ornament. Above, an architectural arch carries the name “Delhaize Frères”; below, the emphatic words “Le Café” give the composition its commercial conclusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster belongs to a period when advertising was becoming an increasingly conspicuous part of European urban life. Retailers required images capable of holding attention in busy public settings, and artists brought the language of ambitious figure painting and decorative design into the commercial sphere. Richir, a Belgian artist, combines refined draughtsmanship with a clear promotional hierarchy: the figure provides drama and personality, the ornate setting lends distinction, and the typography ensures that the product remains unmistakable. An everyday commodity is presented not through domestic routine but through ceremony, ornament and spectacle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA closer look\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe eye is first drawn to the raised pot, held high enough to interrupt the curve of the surrounding arch. Its polished highlights stand out against the softer browns of the background, while the suggestion of steam introduces a delicate note of movement. The figure’s other adornments reward closer attention: a necklace of earthy beads crosses the chest, and intricate textile patterns shift between pale fabric, deeper russet passages and small coloured accents. The clothing has a slightly billowing quality, preventing the pose from feeling rigid despite its formal presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRichir constructs the design in layers. The figure occupies the immediate foreground, while the arch works simultaneously as setting, decorative frame and support for the retailer’s name. Floral details in subdued reds and greens punctuate its corners, and an ornate border contains the whole arrangement. In the upper left, a small lion emblem provides an additional point of branding without competing with the principal lettering. These surrounding motifs are densely worked, yet areas of comparatively quiet tone keep the poster legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt the lower right stands a large bell-shaped vessel embellished with floral decoration and fine linear detail. Its rounded form balances the elevated coffee pot diagonally across the composition. Nearby flowers soften the transition into the lower border, where the bold “Le Café” lettering anchors the scene. The interaction of lettering and illustration is particularly effective: words are not simply placed over the picture but integrated into its architecture, guiding the gaze from brand to figure and finally to product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContext and significance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy the end of the nineteenth century, posters had become an important meeting point between fine art, retail culture and modern graphic communication. Their success depended upon immediate recognition at a distance, but the strongest examples also offered enough detail to sustain prolonged looking. Richir’s design satisfies both demands. Its large silhouette and prominent lettering establish a clear message, while patterned fabrics, jewellery, flowers and ornamental line introduce the finish associated with more traditional forms of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe sinuous decoration and integrated typography reflect the broader visual climate of the fin de siècle, when European designers increasingly treated the poster as a unified composition rather than a mere illustrated notice. Here, commercial persuasion is inseparable from atmosphere. Coffee is associated with warmth through the close range of brown, tan and orange, while the ceremonial pose gives the product a sense of occasion. The result remains compelling as an example of how late nineteenth-century advertising could make branding, figure study and decorative design operate as a single, carefully controlled image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing the right size and finish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArtwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop for advice\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 20x36in (50x90cm) version of this art print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee examples of personalised artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/fr\/pages\/sepia-aged-maps\"\u003eSee examples of our Aged artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFramed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSelected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/fr\/pages\/custom-framing\"\u003especialist framing\u003c\/a\u003e are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact our workshop\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67649400537479,"sku":null,"price":41.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67649400570247,"sku":null,"price":113.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67649400603015,"sku":null,"price":119.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67649400635783,"sku":null,"price":79.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67649400668551,"sku":null,"price":162.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67649400701319,"sku":null,"price":173.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x36in (50x90cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67649400734087,"sku":null,"price":95.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x36in (50x90cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67649400766855,"sku":null,"price":259.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x36in (50x90cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67649400799623,"sku":null,"price":270.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"22x40in (56x100cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67649400832391,"sku":null,"price":124.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"22x40in (56x100cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67649400865159,"sku":null,"price":357.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"22x40in (56x100cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67649400897927,"sku":null,"price":411.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x50in (70x127cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67649400930695,"sku":null,"price":227.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x50in (70x127cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67649400963463,"sku":null,"price":947.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x50in (70x127cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67649400996231,"sku":null,"price":947.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67649401028999,"sku":null,"price":303.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67649401061767,"sku":null,"price":1515.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67649401094535,"sku":null,"price":1515.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"39x70in (99x178cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67649401127303,"sku":null,"price":497.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"39x70in (99x178cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67649401160071,"sku":null,"price":2029.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"39x70in (99x178cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67649401192839,"sku":null,"price":1943.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_ab2a410f-edb9-4a9b-bec2-e9d734c787f0.jpg?v=1791390073","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.eu\/fr\/products\/delhaize-freres-vintage-coffee-poster-by-herman-richir-1898","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}