Framed Original Lefor Openo Poster - Gitanes, 1960

Artist: Lefor-Openo
Dimensions: 33 x 24.8 cm
Technique: Lithographic
Condition: Excellent (*very rare)
Year of print: 1960

An Iconic Gitanes Lithograph – Circa 1960. This striking lithograph from 1960 is nearly 70 years old—and still feels ahead of its time. The bold lines, the signature Gitanes blue, and those eyes—utterly captivating. A rare and collectible affiche, it’s a true gem for design lovers and collectors alike.

While women were frequently depicted in posters, few were celebrated as poster artists themselves. Among the exceptions: Marie Claire Lefort and Marie Francine Oppeneau, known together under the pseudonym Lefor-Openo.

The duo met in art school and trained together at the renowned École Paul Colin in Paris. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, they created bold, joyful posters for the Loterie Nationale, political campaigns (including one for Charles de Gaulle), and various French institutions.

Lefort passed away in 1971, but Oppeneau continued their legacy—opening a gallery in Saint-Cloud in 1980, and later, a second in Paris in 1990, proudly named Lefor-Openo in honor of her lifelong friend and creative partner.