If you’ve ever grabbed a DO & CO menu or dessert box and spotted a uniformed old-timer gleefully licking his way toward a slice of Sachertorte, you’ve already met the work of Erich Sokol — whether you realized it or not.
Sokol (1933–2003) wasn’t just any illustrator. He was one of Austria’s sharpest satirical artists — a caricaturist with a wicked eye for exaggeration and humor. His style was unmistakable: richly painted, hyper-expressive figures just teetering between elegance and cartoon chaos.
When Vienna-based gourmet powerhouse DO & CO looked for an artistic voice that could match its playful luxury, Sokol was the perfect fit. His whimsical dessert-devouring general — medals gleaming, tongue at full stretch — became an instant signature. It’s equal parts charming, irreverent, and unmistakably Viennese.
So next time you’re savoring a slice of Sachertorte at 35,000 feet or in a grand hotel lobby, tip your fork to Erich Sokol — the man who captured Austria’s humor, refinement, and sweet tooth in a single unforgettable illustration.