What "style of design" would you call this label/ font?

September 20, 2013 12:28 PM

I'm a graphic designer and I should know this. I'm also over-thinking, as usual. What would you call this style of design used on This label of italian candy ? I've always loved this look and described it as many different things but I've never known the exact style of lettering/ overall general design term. I usually just describe it as "vintage hand drawn really fancy lettering, old school labels." which is, you know, super professional of me. thanks!
posted by twoforty5am to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Art Nouveau.

Here are some fonts.

Here's a google images link to Art Nouveau packaging.

You'll see it at some of the Paris Metro stations.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:40 PM on September 20, 2013

It's actually a pastiche - the product titles are too early for Art Nouveau's gorgeous, elaborate rounded letterforms, but the smaller titles are definitely Art Nouveau. The long, tall font of the main title is an embellished Extra Condensed typeface, which rose to popularity in Victorian times.

I would cut the difference, and call it "turn of the century graphic design."
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:10 PM on September 20, 2013

mmm...I would say Victorian as opposed to Art Nouveau...the really distinctive feature of Art Nouveau wasn't so much the curlicue but what is known as the 'whiplash curve' where the ends of the lines change direction (more of a squiggle than a curve)...look at the fonts above and particularly
Arnold Boecklin...see how the top of the C curls and then changes direction?
posted by sexyrobot at 1:11 PM on September 20, 2013

looking again, I'm with slaphappy on this one...those smaller fonts could even be as late as Art Deco, but the sticker on the top looks Nouveau to me...
posted by sexyrobot at 1:18 PM on September 20, 2013

It's got elements of Art Nouveau, but the overly embellished sort of engraved-looking typography is definitely Victorian.

I think Slap*Happy is spot-on.
posted by SpecialSpaghettiBowl at 1:26 PM on September 20, 2013

It's Belle Epoque style. For more, see Jules Chéret.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:12 PM on September 20, 2013

Oneirodynia has it, with the addition that this is more the Italian take on Belle Epoque, which you can see on classic Italian opera and travel posters. Over on the International Poster Gallery they're apparently calling this Italian Art Nouveau. Same time period, slightly different place.
posted by Mizu at 10:47 PM on September 20, 2013

Fin de siècle
posted by Thorzdad at 6:22 AM on September 21, 2013

Ah knew I could count on you guys! Thank you!
posted by twoforty5am at 10:20 AM on September 21, 2013