About the Artist
J.Olséns is the credited designer of this 1945 Cirkelkaffe poster, created during a period when Scandinavian commercial art was embracing modern, functional aesthetics. In the mid-20th century, poster artists like Olséns played a key role in shaping public perception of everyday products, using visual clarity to communicate brand identity in a rapidly changing postwar society.
This work reflects the broader context of postwar optimism and the importance of accessible design in daily life. For those interested in vintage advertising posters, it stands as a testament to Nordic graphic innovation and the era’s focus on clarity and approachability.
The Artwork
Cirkelkaffe’s poster was created to promote a sense of reliability and warmth around the daily ritual of coffee drinking. The central figure, likely representing a coffee grower or worker, anchors the brand in a narrative of honest labor and rural tradition. The landscape backdrop hints at the origins of the product, reinforcing ideas of authenticity and trust that were vital in mid-century marketing.
Produced at a time when posters were a primary medium for commercial messaging, this piece demonstrates how brands used familiar human figures and pastoral imagery to foster a sense of continuity and comfort in everyday routines.
Style & Characteristics
The poster features a striking figure with a wide-brimmed hat and bright earrings, set prominently against rolling green fields and a clear sky. The composition uses bold outlines and simplified shapes, ensuring immediate visual impact and legibility from afar—hallmarks of mid-century poster design.
The color palette is sunny and inviting, with yellows, greens, browns, blues, white, and touches of orange. The overall mood is optimistic and calm, with a decorative yet direct style that exemplifies Scandinavian graphic clarity. This makes the work particularly effective as a vintage poster for modern interiors.
In Interior Design
This vintage coffee poster serves as a lively focal point in kitchens, dining areas, or breakfast nooks, especially within Scandinavian, mid-century modern, or contemporary interiors. Its clean lines and cheerful palette complement light woods and neutral walls.
For a cohesive look, pair it with accents in green and yellow, or include it in a gallery wall alongside kitchen wall art and other green tone prints to balance graphic charm with natural warmth.
