In 1951, illustrator Alexis Kow designed this advertising poster for the airline Air France. It showcases winter sports and depicts the French Alps, with joyful athletes speeding down the slopes on a bobsleigh. This image is now considered an iconic reference in the Air France Legend collection, and One Art offers a reproduction in various formats.
Off to the winter sports with Air France and Alexis Kow
After the war, Air France wanted to win over a new clientele, particularly abroad, and promote winter tourism. To do this, it commissioned, among others, the illustrator Alexis Kow to create aadvertising poster highlighting winter sportsIn 1951, he presented this composition, which is now famous and highly sought after by collectors. Particularly representative of its time, it uses very few words, in favor of drawings with dynamic lines and bright colors.
Alexis Kow's poster shows long, bright red skis with the Alpine mountains in the background. A group of 4 athletes is sliding down the track in a bobsleigh in the foreground, wearing suits that match the skis. This design evokes bothelegance, through its clean lines, and themodernityof air travel. Indeed, in the sky, a beautiful Air France aircraft dominates the scene. The poster also illustratesthe fun side of winter sports, thespeedand thefreedomassociated with these activities.
Having become iconic over time, this advertisement is part of a series commissioned by the French company during a period whenthe world was gradually discovering leisure tourismFor enthusiasts, it is a beautiful collector's item and a symbol of the golden age of advertising and visual communication, perfectly illustrating the know-how of French artists in the 1950s.
Order your vintage poster at One Art
Issue from theOfficial Air France Legend CollectionThe Alexis Kow Winter Sports poster we offer comes directly from the company's historical heritage collections. Each copy features atamponin its lower right corner,attesting to its authenticity.
Our posters are printed by hand, in our Fontainebleau lab, onpaper Hahnemühle matte 200 gThis choice was made after careful consideration and guarantees high-quality reproductions, atdelicate and grooved touch, which is reminiscent of the age of belles-lettres.
In order to preserve both the artwork and the planet's resources, we follow a digital printing process that allows us tomanufacture each product on demandTo this end, we also use inks and machines that meet the strictest environmental standards in force.
To add a retro and refined touch to your interior, choose the Alexis Kow poster, available in our catalog in three sizes to best fit any room: 30x40 cm, 50x70 cm and 60x80 cm. We also offer it as a postcard, in 10x15 cm, with a scratch-resistant soft-touch finish. Feel free to browse our catalog to find the vintage poster that's right for you.
