From 1950 to 1976 Container Corporation of America ran an advertising campaign entitled “Great Ideas of Western Man.” Each poster in the series (totaling 195) matches a statement from a famous Western thinker with an illustration by a contemporary artist.

The illustration in this poster (number 166 in the series) was designed by artist Miguel Garcia Vivancos and accompanies a quote by Thomas Carlyle. Vivancos, who had no formal art training, painted scenes of the everyday. Here the kitchen, even though from another time period, could be anyone's kitchen with the same cooking equipment, utensils, furniture, animals, gardens, and with a woman sitting by the door. The poster illustrates this observation by Carlyle:

The great law of culture is: let each become all that he was created capable of being: expand, if possible, to his full growth; and show himself at length in his own shape and stature, be these what they may.

Miguel Garcia Vivancos (1895-1972) was a Spanish painter whose work reflected his tenderness for his people and nostalgia for his homeland.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a British historian, satirical writer, essayist, translator, philosopher, mathematician, and teacher.

Walter Paepcke, President of the Container Corporation, initiated this series of advertisements because he believed in expressing larger moral, philosophical and political issues in the company’s advertisements while building awareness of the company and promoting good citizenship.

This poster makes a thought-provoking addition to every poster collection and interesting wall art for every room. If this poster interests you, you'll also want to look at the other posters in this "Great Ideas of Western Man" that we offer.

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