Paper is a versatile material that can inspire designers in countless ways. In a previous post, we explored a complex form of paper art, but inspiration doesn't always have to be intricate.
Vintage posters, for instance, remain a fantastic source of inspiration. Sotheby's often features a great selection, including art, advertising, music, and movie posters.
The current auction of vintage posters includes highlights such as a vibrant Joseph Perrier champagne advertisement by Joseph Stall (1930) and a psychedelic Polish poster for the French film Zazie Dans Le Métro by Jolanta Karczewska (1968), which features the main character amid dreamlike pastel floral imagery.
Some designs are graphically mesmerizing, like the Swedish poster for Words and Music (Sang dans Musik) by Eric Rohman (1929).
Others have a subtle architectural twist, such as the poster for the 1920 romance film Sumurun, directed by Ernst Lubitsch and designed by Bernd Steiner, which shows the protagonist wearing a turban with an entire city illustrated on it (could this be an idea for a headdress, a wig or a showpiece at a runway show?).
For a touch of Orientalist Art Deco exoticism, there's the Italian poster for Mata Hari (1931), the MGM film starring Greta Garbo in which the actress appeared in a long sequinned gown and jeweled headdress designed by Adrian.
Since it is summer one of the most relevant section of this vintage posters auction for those ones currently unable to go on holiday for different reasons, is the travel poster section that offers a wide range of pieces, including an Art Deco travel advertisement for Bandol (1930), a health resort for the upper class at the end of the 18th century turned into a popular vacation spot in the mid-19th century, by André Bermond (1903-1983).
Maps and scenic views combine in the travel poster from the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique advertising a route to Corsica, by Edouard Collin (circa 1950).
For a touch of kitsch, check out Stan Galli's poster for United Airlines promoting Hawaii. Galli was a prolific illustrator whose work spanned various genres, including magazine illustration, postage stamp design, and travel and advertising posters.
Vivid summer colors characterize the French Railway poster advertising the Côte d'Azur by Bernard Villemot, depicting a figure with water and palm trees.
Villemot was a French graphic artist renowned for his iconic advertising images for brands such as Orangina, Bally, Perrier, and Air France. His work is known for its sharp artistic vision influenced by photography, along with simple, elegant lines and bold colors that distilled advertising messages into memorable images.
Another standout in the auction is a travel advertising poster for Brides-les-Bains, a spa and ski resort in the Savoie region of southeastern France (1929), created by Léon Benigni (1892-1948). Made for the French railway P.L.M. (Paris, Lyon, Méditerranée), the poster advertised Brides-les-Bains as the destination for the elegant woman, showcasing Benigni's stylish drawings.
Benigni was a prominent French fashion illustrator, draughtsman, and lithographer. He collaborated with renowned designers and couturiers like Jeanne Lanvin, Marcel Rochas, Elsa Schiaparelli, Lucien Lelong, Jacques Fath, Jean Patou, Nina Ricci, and Cristóbal Balenciaga. His work appeared in prestigious magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Femina, La Donna, Art Goût Beauté, The Bystander, and Modes et Travaux.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Benigni also designed travel posters like this one, as well as advertisements for Cadillac and LaSalle cars. His style combined delicacy and charm with a light element of caricature, and he became known for his simplicity and effectiveness in publicity.
Yes, these posters can cost thousands of dollars, and being on holiday isn't the same as browsing through vintage travel posters and travelling with your imagination. Yet the vibrant colors, elegant lines, and timeless charm of these pieces can inspire wonderful creative projects, or maybe just fuel dreams of stylish travels.
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