Air France/New York-Paris
Designer
Vincent Guerra
Date1951
Dimensions39 x 24 3/4 in. (99.1 x 62.9 cm)
ClassificationsPoster
Credit LinePoster House Permanent Collection
Object numberPH.8212
DescriptionThis Air France poster combines French and North American imagery, juxtaposing a relaxed scene along the Champs-Elysées with a star-spangled night sky that illuminates the Statue of Liberty. At the upper left, the famed Lockheed Constellation flies toward New York. Nestled within the “C” of France is a winged seahorse composed of the bust of Pegasus from Greek mythology and the tail of the Dragon of Annam, a Vietnamese symbol. This creature was the original emblem of Air Orient, one of the founding airlines of Air France, and was incorporated into the brand’s logo when it was created. The motif was updated by Charles Loupot in 1951, the year this poster was printed. This winged seahorse was a holdover from the era when seaplanes played a key role in long-distance air travel, symbolically marrying the sea and the air. It became affectionately known as “the shrimp” by Air France employees.On View
On view
