Cozenot 1927

A striking example of early Art Deco poster design, this original 1927 lithographic advertisement by Jean Adrien Mercier was created for Cozenot, a firearms and shooting specialist located at 5 Rue Voltaire, Angers, France. Bold, geometric, and unmistakably modern, the composition showcases Mercier’s signature visual language—where clean lines, strong silhouettes, and minimal yet expressive detailing dominate.

At the center of the design stands a sharply dressed marksman rendered in deep rust-red hues, aiming his firearm with steady focus. His poised stance and angular form echo the rising popularity of stylization and abstraction in commercial art during the interwar years. Behind him, dramatic vertical streaks—suggesting gunfire, energy, or perhaps a stylized forest—add a sense of motion and urgency while framing the figure against the light, neutral background.

The poster is anchored by bold black typography spelling out “COZENOT,” with equally robust lettering underneath promoting the business as an “arquebusier”—a historic French term for a gunsmith or specialist in firearms. The typeface, with its exaggerated proportions and stark contrasts, typifies the robust design ethos of the 1920s.

Jean Adrien Mercier, a prominent illustrator and graphic designer from Angers, was only in the early stages of his career when this poster was made, yet already demonstrated exceptional command of composition and a modernist aesthetic that would define his later work. Mercier would go on to design numerous posters, book illustrations, and even film advertisements throughout the 1930s and beyond, becoming one of the standout figures of French Art Deco visual culture.

This rare and compelling piece is more than just a commercial advertisement—it is a visual artifact of a transformative period in design history. It not only represents a regional French business but also embodies the dynamic shift in graphic communication between the wars. A standout in any vintage poster collection, particularly for those passionate about Art Deco, 20th-century French advertising, or early firearms and sport shooting culture.

Hunting - Weapons - Pays de la Loire - France

Arquebusier - Angers, M. Valotaire

Good condition, slight tears, minor soiling