Timor

TYPE

Advertising poster

YEAR

1953

INDUSTRY

Insecticides

CLIENT

Montecatini

MEDIUM

Photolithograph on paper

COLLECTION

National Museum Salce Collection, Treviso, Italy

CATALOG ID

0500673940

RIGHTS HOLDER

© Ministero della Cultura (Italy)

LICENSE

CC BY 4.0

DESCRIPTION

This work reflects Ottinetti’s ability to translate product function into a clear and controlled visual language. The composition is structured around a stylized female figure whose gesture—drinking while confronting an insect—anchors the image and directs attention to the central tension. Through bold color contrast, graphic simplification, and expressive form, the design reduces the concept of protection into a legible and immediate visual statement.

Situated within postwar consumer and household advertising, the work reflects a broader shift toward problem–solution communication. Rather than describing the chemical properties of the insecticide, Ottinetti visualizes its purpose through confrontation and resolution, balancing narrative and clarity. The piece aligns with the evolving language of mid-century European graphic design, where symbolic imagery and visual economy became central to persuasive communication.

Piero Ottinetti — Design Archive