FIX-MASSEAU VENICE SIMPLON ORIENT EXPRESS WINGED LION POSTER

Designed in the art deco style, this poster evokes those bygone days of train travel. A sleek train is streaking along the bottom of the poster, and above the train are beautiful, almost dream-like images of the significant sights of Venice.  The  winged Lion of Venice statue dominates the center of the poster with its lovely blue silhouette framed by a black sky, with drawings of St. Mark's Basilica and Campanile and a picture of a gondolier in his gondola below that.   At the bottom of the poster is the name of the railway company -– Venice Simplon Orient Express -- offering its London-Paris-Venice service.

When this poster was printed in 1992 (the second printing), planes had long ago eclipsed trains as the most popular method of transcontinental travel. The Venice Simplon Orient Express, a private luxury train service with five-star dining, was promoting its train travel experience by selling something the airlines were not offering: nostalgia for the old days of travel that catered exclusively to the rich.

The designer of this poster was Pierre Fix-Masseau (1905-1994), a French graphic designer who was one of the prominent poster designers of the art deco period. His posters, like this one he designed in 1979, often had transportation themes and showed sleek ships, cars and trains. 

Step back in time with this fun art deco style poster celebrating the elegance and sophistication of train travel!

Condition:  A