Razzia: The Modern Master of the Vintage Poster
Who is Gérard Courbouleix-Deneriaz (Razzia)?
Razzia is a French graphic designer and poster artist, born in 1950. He adopted the name Razzia early in his career and has used it ever since as his artistic signature. Based in Paris, he is internationally recognized for reviving and modernizing the tradition of illustrated advertising posters.
Why is he known as “Razzia”?
The name Razzia was chosen as a strong, memorable pseudonym that suited the world of advertising and graphic design. Over time, it became inseparable from his visual style—bold, elegant, and instantly recognizable. Today, the name Razzia alone is enough to identify his work in galleries and auction houses.
What is Razzia’s artistic style?
Razzia’s work is often described as neo-vintage or modern Art Deco — merging the glamour of the 1920s–1950s with clean modern minimalism. His posters are defined by:
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Bold, balanced compositions
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Elegant typography inspired by classic Art Deco design
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Simplified forms and striking geometry
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Flat, vivid color palettes with dramatic lighting
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A refined sense of luxury and nostalgia
This distinctive style has made Razzia’s posters not only decorative art pieces but also valuable collectibles that embody timeless sophistication.
What Themes and Iconic Subjects?
Razzia’s art celebrates luxury, travel, and French culture, often centered around themes that capture a sense of movement, glamour, and indulgence. His best-known works include:
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Famous Parisian restaurants: La Coupole, Closerie des Lilas, Au Sauvignon, Café de Flore

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Travel destinations: Paris, St. Moritz, Deauville, Le Touquet

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Prestigious car rallies and elegance events: blending art, motion, and prestige
Among Razzia’s most famous commissions is his long partnership with Louis Vuitton. Each year, he created exclusive posters for the Louis Vuitton Classic, a series of vintage car rallies and concours d’élégance events organized by the iconic luxury brand.
These events, including the Serenissima Run (Monaco to Venice, 2012), the Bagatelle Concours (Paris), and the Vintage Equator Run (Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, 1993), celebrated the beauty of rare automobiles — from Ferraris and Aston Martins to Mercedes-Benz classics.
Through these collaborations, Razzia captured Louis Vuitton’s spirit of “The Art of Travel”, blending design, history, and motion into imagery that continues to define luxury poster art today.
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Sailing Regattas
Between 2004 and 2007, Razzia was commissioned by Louis Vuitton to design a series of striking posters for major international sailing regattas, known as the Louis Vuitton Acts. These events served as qualifying rounds for the prestigious America’s Cup, uniting the world’s top sailing teams in competition.
Razzia’s posters for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the Louis Vuitton Trophy captured the elegance, motion, and spirit of high-seas competition—translating the excitement of sailing into timeless visual art that echoed Louis Vuitton’s legacy of travel and adventure.
- Tennis tournaments : Rolland Garros, US Open
- Golf
- Air Balloon
Is Razzia a painter or an illustrator?
Razzia works primarily as an illustrator and graphic designer, but his process is painterly in spirit. He traditionally created his posters by hand, using gouache and airbrush techniques, rather than relying solely on digital tools. This handcrafted approach contributes to the warmth and depth of his images.
What is Razzia’s legacy?
Razzia’s greatest contribution is having revived the prestige of the illustrated poster at a time when photography dominated advertising. He proved that illustration could still convey elegance, desire, and atmosphere—especially in travel and luxury branding.
Today, his influence can be seen in:


