Italia Lines. Colazione - Luncheon

2 pp. 9.75x7.25". Genova: Italia, July 18, 1951.

Image by Vsevolode Nicouline depicts a scene from 1,001 Nights. Nicouline (1890-1968) was a Russian-born Italian artist, illustrator, and set designer. The Russian Revolution derailed Nicouline's studies, and he became an officer in the White Russian forces. As the Bolsheviks gained the upper hand, he fled to Constantinople and then to Genoa. Soon afterwards, he began to publish woodcuts that were heavily inspired by Japanese woodblock printing and took on Japanese themes (such as samurai and Japanese folk tales). He then moved on to watercolors and then towards illustrations, focusing on mythologies of various cultures. In the early 1950's, he was commissioned by Italia Lines to create a series of scenes from famous fairy tales for their shipboard menus.

This is a dinner menu from aboard to Mn Vulcania, with selections listed in Italian and English, featuring pastaccio di tagliatelle alla Bolognese, costoletta di montone, etc. Foxing to lower margins on front cover (not affecting image), else very good.