Posters of the Vittorio Veneto’s bacological establishments

The silk industry was one of the main industries in the Vittorio Veneto (TV) area in the north of Italy. This was possible thanks to a landscape characterised by a strong presence of mulberry trees, of which numerous specimens still remain.

Silkworm breeding began as a small family activity supplementary to agricultural work and then took on increasing consistency. At the beginning of the late nineteenth century, factories and bacological observatories for applied research sprang up, bringing the Vittorio Veneto silkworm seed industry to the forefront nationwide. By 1902 up to fifteen bacological establishments arrived. Silkworm breeding, spinning millwork and bacological centers covered the vast majority of the local population until the recent past.

Testifying to this productive ferment is a series of posters preserved at “Museo del Baco da Seta” in Vittorio Veneto. These include the poster designed by Adolfo Busi in the 1920s.

Adolfo Busi
Faenza, 1891 — Bologna, 1977

Busi was a versatile Italian artist who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna. After exhibiting at the Second Roman Secession in 1914 and achieving international success in San Francisco (USA), he turned to advertising graphic art and illustration. He worked with Italian companies such as Barilla and Lane Rossi, designing for major chromolithographic establishments including Officine Grafiche Ricordi (Milano) and Chappuis (Bologna).

Over time, he also specialized in illustrating children’s books. His work, appreciated for its freshness and intelligence in reinterpreting the styles of his time, continued to be exhibited and valued by critics even after World War II.

Sitography:

https://www.museivittorioveneto.it/museo_del_baco_da_seta.html
http://www.collezionesalce.beniculturali.it/
https://www.storiaememoriadibologna.it/busi-adolfo-484139-persona
https://www.archiviostoricobarilla.com/?s=Busi+Adolfo
https://www.archiviostoricobarilla.com/scheda-archivio/calendario-barilla-1931-putti-giocolieri/
https://www.archiviostoricobarilla.com/esplora/focus/chi-cerca-trova-piccole-avventure-in-archivio/il-calendario-di-adolfo-busi-1931/
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/barilla-parma-cameriere-volante-busi-adolfo-1891-1977/VAHGitmoIQMxZQ

Bibliography:

Richard Hollis - Graphic Design a Concise History, Thames & Hudson

Thanks to Francesca Costaperaria and  I Musei Civici di Vittorio Veneto for the permission to use the Busi's Poster.