Background
He was born Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to French parents.
artist painter graphic designer
He was born Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to French parents.
As a young man, Cassandre moved to Paris, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and at the Académie Julian.
The popularity of posters as advertising afforded him an opportunity to work for a Parisian printing house. He is perhaps best known for his posters advertising travel, for clients such as the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. His creations for the Dubonnet wine company were among the first posters designed in a manner that allowed them to be seen by occupants in moving vehicles.
His posters are memorable for their innovative graphic solutions and their frequent denotations to such painters as Max Ernst and Pablo Picasso.
In addition, he taught graphic design at the École des Arts Décoratifs and then at the École d"Art Graphique. With typography an important part of poster design, the company created several new typeface styles.
Cassandre developed Bifur in 1929, the sans serif Acier Noir in 1935, and in 1937 an all-purpose font called Peignot. With the onset of World World War II, Cassandre served in the French army until the fall of France.
His business long gone, he survived by creating stage sets and costumes for the theatre, something he had dabbled in during the 1930s.
After the war, he continued this line of work while also returning to easel painting. In 1963, he designed the well-known Yves Saint Laurent logo. In his later years, Cassandre suffered from bouts of depression prior to his suicide in Paris in 1968.
In 1985, Cassandre"s son told his father"s life story in a book titled Master of Arts Cassandre.
The book, published in English by Rizzoli, is currently out of print. These foundry types were produced by Deberny & Peignot from designs by Cassandre:.