Heineken Beer Poster — Vintage Print by Frans Mettes (c.1951)
A rare and beautifully preserved example of mid-century Dutch graphic design, this vintage Heineken beer poster was created by noted designer Frans Mettes around 1951. With its clever visual play — the frosty glass forming “beery eyes” and droplets doubling as pupils — the composition exemplifies Mettes’ witty, modernist approach to advertising. The bold typography and crisp illustration speak to an era when European breweries embraced striking, minimalist design to convey sophistication and brand identity.
Professionally framed by Nash Frame Design in Minneapolis, the print is mounted beneath museum-cut white matting and housed in a matte grey frame finished to archival standards. It ships with premium hanging hardware, arriving ready to hang in a home bar, dining room, or as part of a curated gallery wall.
This piece is more than an advertisement; it’s a cultural artifact from a time when Heineken Bierbrouwerij Maatschappij, founded in 1864, was cementing its reputation as a dominant force in Dutch brewing. Today, it stands as a testament to the intersection of design, commerce, and everyday ritual — ideal for collectors of European ephemera, beverage history, or mid-century modern aesthetics.
Details:
- Title: Heineken Beer Poster
- Designer: Frans Mettes
- Date: Circa 1951
- Origin: Netherlands (issued by Heineken Bierbrouwerij Maatschappij)
- Language: Dutch (branding and design elements)
- Style: Mid-century advertising / graphic design
- Medium: Printed reproduction on quality stock (paper tone shows natural age)
- Framing: Professionally framed by Nash Frame Design, Minneapolis; matte black frame with white museum mat
- Display: Includes hanging hardware; arrives ready to hang
- Condition: Excellent — well preserved with tasteful patina consistent with vintage paper
- Dimensions: 17 1/8" H x 13" W x 7/8" D
- Collector’s Note: Perfect for a curated wall featuring beverage memorabilia, European advertising, or modernist design. Its bold composition pairs beautifully with contemporary interiors or a bar setting where craftsmanship and cultural heritage are celebrated.