Description
Look at this judge—really look. Achille Mauzan catches the exact moment when three officials are about to taste Bertozzi’s Parmigiano Reggiano, and instead of showing you solemn dignity, he gives you something better: barely contained anticipation. Those faces aren’t just exaggerated; they’re alive with the knowledge that great cheese is about to pass their lips. Mauzan’s grotesque style—the bulging eyes, the generous noses, the theatrical expressions—might seem crude at first glance, but there’s genuine warmth here, even affection. This isn’t mockery. It’s a celebration.
Created in 1930, Parma, this stone lithograph became so successful that it ran to a fourth edition—a testament to how completely Mauzan solved the challenge of making cheese compelling. The color palette is a masterclass in appetite appeal: that bold mustard yellow announcing the brand name with unshakeable confidence, the deep teal background that makes the judges pop, the cream and red tones of the judges’ skin. Every color choice says: Pay attention. Something good is happening.
You’re acquiring a piece of Italian commercial art at its peak, when advertising posters were still crafted with the care of fine art. Achille Mauzan (1883–1952) was a master of this form—a designer who understood that selling something as magnificent as authentic Parmigiano Reggiano meant matching his visual wit to the product’s reputation. The linen backing and archival conservation indicate that this piece has been preserved to museum standards.
This is the real thing: a moment when genius, humor, and commerce collided on a single stone plate. Every time you walk past it, those judges will be waiting, ready to convince you again that Bertozzi’s cheese is worth every penny of faith they’re placing in it.
Luciano Achille Mauzan (1883 – 1952)
Date:1930
Size:39.25″ x 55″
Medium: Lithograph | Linen-backed Excellent
INV. #:8130
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