The history of graphic design is inextricably linked to the American experience, shifting from government-sponsored uplift during a crisis to the sleek optimism of the postwar boom. This journey offers a trove of compelling imagery, from which we source our collection of museum-grade American poster prints.
The most historically significant chapter is undoubtedly the WPA art program. Born from President Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA, later Work Projects Administration) Federal Art Project was a vital patron during the Great Depression. Its Poster Division employed hundreds of out-of-work artists, tasking them not with selling goods, but with promoting public health, safety, and cultural initiatives. These posters, often executed in a bold, simplified style—influenced by Art Deco and early Modernism—served as powerful, accessible art for the common good.
WPA National Park & See America Prints
Collecting large format WPA prints today is to own a piece of this unique moment when the government acted as an unprecedented commissioner of art, leaving behind a legacy of iconic designs encouraging everything from national park visits to community theatre. The famous iconic Rosie the Riveter prints, though later tied to a private ad campaign, capture the spirit of national unity and purpose that defined the era.
Vintage US Airline & Railway Travel Posters
Following the austerity of the Great Depression and the drive of World War II, the Golden Age of American advertising blossomed. The economic boom of the 1950s and 60s ushered in a new era of consumer culture, and graphic design became a sophisticated tool for commerce. Artists and designers, often influenced by the European avant-garde and the Bauhaus movement, adopted the clean lines, vibrant colors, and geometric forms characteristic of the Mid-Century era. This style emphasized functionality, simplicity, and a hopeful, modern outlook on the future.
Classic American Food & Advertising Posters
This optimistic vision is perfectly embodied in restored 1950s travel posters. These prints shed the heavier political messaging of the WPA for breezy illustrations, promoting a burgeoning leisure class and showcasing America’s stunning destinations through simplified shapes and striking color blocks. From the bold typography of an airline ad to the playful geometry of a furniture flyer, Mid-Century graphic design is endlessly appealing. These prints don't just decorate a room; they inject it with the effortless, cool sophistication of a transformative American decade. Explore our collection and bring home a slice of this stylish history—a testament to the enduring power of American visual culture.
