Lot 313: Naja. 1932.

Naja. 1932.Although Dransy's fame rests mainly on the shoulders of his immortal wine-delivering Nectar (see Nos. 311 & 312), he is also responsible for creating a reasonable number of enduring advertising icons, such as this promotion for the venomously-attractive brand of Naja cigarettes. The artist lets you know right up front that both serpents and smokes are more likely than not going to come back and bite you, but his central inclusion of a Middle Eastern charmer makes the unhealthy proposition an attractive one nonetheless. Incidentally, Naja is a genus of poisonous snakes most commonly referred to as cobras, though there are several other genera which also make use of that common name.
DRANSY (Jules Isnard, 1883-ca. 1945)

39 1/8 x 59 1/2 in./99.3 x 151 cm

1932.0

A/ Slight ink offsetting at top.

PRINTER
De La Vasselais, Paris