I don’t smoke, but I really enjoy going through vintage cigarette advertising. A genre in itself, tobacco ads encompassed all design styles and ranged in subject matter from the scientific to the fashionable and iconic, and even to the bizarre…
But I love love classic French cigarette brand Gitanes‘ vintage ads. The modern (now considered retro-modern) designs and bright, bold colors are just lovely. And despite the eye-catching designs, the ads are very subtle – there are no cigarette health facts or hard-sell headlines. Just simple, beautiful designs featuring a gypsy lady. Here are some examples:







I am sorry for my English. “Don’t smoke & drive” is wrong name of this picture. I am from Russia, and I am not a communist, I have never seen bears and I don’t like vodka. But this ads is propagandize to smoke only the cigarettes of “Mosselprom” (МОС СЕЛЬ ПРОМ). That name ” Mosselprom” is translated as “Moscow Rural Industry” (МОСковская СЕЛЬская ПРОМышленность) – it was only production of USSR, which have making cigarettes, bread and sausages . P.S. I’ve seen wolf, I smoke Lucky Strike and I like beer. Please send me your answer.
Love your reply! and the cyrillic words and history and side comments. thanks!
It’s about a soviet poster with a man on the cigaret.
The first image reminds me of the poster of the classic silent film “Battleship Potemkin.”
Dan, check out my post on Propaganda Posters. Battleship Potemkin posters would totally fit into that category. I love early 20th century Russian poster design!
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The posters are lovely. Makes me think on the gorgeous work Mucha http://www.muchafoundation.org/MHome.aspx did for Job back in the forever ago. I love his stuff:) Another great post delivered here:) Thanks!