Frans Mettes - part 1

Frans Mettes 1909-1984 was a Dutch illustrator and poster artist. Perhaps not a familiar name outside the Netherlands, Mettes was a commercial artist whose recognisable style and characteristic humour translated into advertisements of the highest quality. From political, film and public safety posters to iconic ads for well-known Dutch brands like Heineken, Droste, Hartevelt, Amstel and Boldoot, bold colours and a cartoonish flair and imagination make things spring to life in his works. As well as illustrating many advertising posters he illustrated various books and newspaper stories. Starting in January 1938 he drew a comic strip “Het Huis aan ’t Water (The House on the Water) in the Dutch newspaper De Standard (150 episodes). 

This is part 1 of a 4-part series on the works of Frans Mettes:

c1933 de Zoon van Kong (the Son of Kong)
colour lithograph movie poster 88 x 60 cm

1935 Marta Eggerth & Johan Heesters in Hofkonzert (Court Concert)
colour lithograph movie poster 55.5 x 49 cm

1936 Koopt Nederlandsche Waar (Buy Dutch Wares)
dan helpen wij elkaar! (then we help each other)
colour lithograph poster 69.5 x 50 cm

1937 Marlene Dietrich in "Angel"
colour lithograph movie poster 101 x 65 cm

1938 De Nationale Film, Veertig Jaren
(The National Film, Forty Years)
colour lithograph poster 100 x 65 cm

1938 De Nationale Film. Veertig Jaren
(The National Film, Forty Years)
colour lithograph movie poster 100 x 65 cm

1938 Nederlandsche Spoorwegen
(Netherlands Railway)
 colour lithograph poster 99.5 x 65 cm

1938 Honig's Soepen
(Honig's Soup)
colour lithograph on cardboard 33.5 x 23 cm

1938 Erna Sack Johan Heesters in "Nanon"
colour lithograph movie poster 99.5 x 64.5 cm

1939 Trek er op uit met een Weekendretour
(Go out with a Weekend Return)
colour lithograph poster 100 x 62 cm

1939 Verzendt de Nederlansche Goederen met de Nederlandsche Spoorwegen
(Ships the Dutch Goods with the Dutch Railway)
colour lithograph poster 99.5 x 65 cm

1939 Een 8 Daagsch Abonnement
(An 8 Day Subscription)
colour lithograph poster 100 x 61.5 cm

1941 Bloed en Zand
(Blood and Sand)
colour lithograph movie poster 116.5 x 84 cm

c1945 Haust Toast
colour lithograph poster 50 x 35 cm

1945 Beverol Gold,  Zomerolie
(Beverol Gold, Summer Oil)
 colour lithograph poster 85 x 56.5 cm

1947 Vis-handel de Bot
original artwork for a poster 70 a 51.5 cm

1947 Haka Thee (Haka Tea)
colour lithograph poster 86 x 61 cm

1948 Yvonne de Carlo, Tony Martin, Peter Lorre "Casbah"
colour lithograph movie poster 71 x 53.5 cm

1948 Pette Bonbons-Chocolade
colour lithograph poster 40 x 28 cm

c1948 Golden Tree
Oranjeboom Breweries, Rotterdam
colour lithograph 48.5 x 32.5 cm

1949 Ingrid Bergman in Jeanne d'Arc
colour lithograph movie poster 66.5 x 54.5 cm

1949 Dan d'Uryea, June Vincent, Pere Lorre in "Black Angel"
colour lithograph movie poster 80 x 55 cm

1950 Coöperatie Ook voor Uw gezin
(Cooperative, Also for Your family)
colour lithograph poster 116 x 83 cm

1950 Boldoot, IJs Heerlijke koelte
(Boldoot, Ice Delicious coldness)
colour lithograph poster 110 x 79.5 cm

1950 Bijloos doodt ze feilloos
(Bjloos kills them flawlessly)
colour lithograph poster 60 x 40 cm

1950 Verenigd Europa, Vraagt Uw Stem
(United Europe,  Requests Your Vote)
 colour lithograph poster 116 x 81 cm

1950 Samen Werk, Samen Sterk
(Work Together, Strong Together)
colour lithograph poster 75 x 55 cm

1950 Orchideeën Tentoonstelling
(Orchid Exhibition(
colour lithograph poster 78 x 53 cm

1950 Drie Hoefijzers Bokbier
(Three Horseshoes Buck Beer)
 colour lithograph poster 61.5 x 40 cm

c1950 dank zÿ Spar Zegels
(thank you Spar Stamps)
colour lithograph poster 109.5 x 79 cm

c1950 Oud Hollandsche Eau de Cologne
(Old Dutch Eau de Cologne)
colour showcard on cardboard 59.5 x 40 cm

c1950 Oranjeboom 'n Vorstelijk glas bier!
(Oranjeboom a Royal glass of beer)
colour lithograph poster 60 x 41 cm

c1950 Nationale Reclasseringsdag
(National Probation Day)
 colour lithograph poster 66 x 38 cm

c1950 Jacky chocoladedrank
(Jacky chocolate drink)
colour lithograph poster 106 x 78 cm

c1950 Haka Thee
(Haka Tea)
original artwork gouache on hardboard 85 x 62 cm

c1950 1 2 3 hoefijzers
(1 2 3 Horseshoes)
colour lithograph poster 55.5 x 42 cm