Frédéric HUGO D'ALESI (Alési)

French painter and advertising graphic designer of Romanian origin, Frédéric Alexianu, known as F. Hugo d'Alési, is one of the most prolific poster artists of the Belle Epoque. He invented the publication of so-called "travel" posters (affiches "de voyage"), which were displayed in all stations and tourist offices in France and Switzerland from the end of the 19th century. He created posters not only for the major French railway companies - Chemin de fer PLM (Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée), Chemins de fer de Paris à Orléans, de l'Est et de l'Ouest - but also for shipping companies and car manufacturers. He has developed a technique which he reserves the exclusive right to use and which imitates watercolour. He uses up to 20 litho plates in order to obtain exactly the desired shade of colour or more refined details. His colourful tourist posters depict enchanting landscapes or picturesque scenes.