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"Very nice Posters. The quality is amazing and we received it very quickly !"
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"A shop to visit absolutely. Huge selection of posters. We spent more than an hour there !"
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"Perfect to find gift. Price are very good. An they can frame and pack it on site"
About the Artist
Aurelio Craffonara was an Italian illustrator active during the golden age of travel advertising, when posters became essential tools for enticing travelers to new destinations. In the early 1930s, Craffonara contributed to the visual identity of Italian tourism, helping to shape a modern, streamlined aesthetic that was both inviting and instantly recognizable. His work reflects the optimism and dynamism of interwar Italy, capturing the spirit of an era when travel was becoming more accessible and aspirational.
Craffonara’s posters are celebrated for their ability to combine clarity with a sense of romance, making them enduring examples of Italian graphic design. Collectors value his prints for their historical significance and their ability to evoke the excitement of early twentieth-century journeys.
The Artwork
Created in 1931, this poster was designed to promote Genoa as a premier maritime destination, highlighting the city’s longstanding relationship with the sea. At a time when tourism was flourishing along the Ligurian coast, such imagery invited viewers to imagine themselves arriving in a bustling port city, where industry and leisure coexisted in harmony. The poster is part of the tradition of vintage travel advertising posters, serving both as a practical guide and a source of inspiration for would-be travelers.
By depicting Genoa’s harbor, the artwork celebrates the city’s role as a gateway to the Mediterranean and reflects the broader cultural movement that embraced travel as a symbol of progress and modernity. For those interested in Italian travel history, it offers a glimpse into the aspirations of the era.
Style & Characteristics
The composition features a sweeping view of Genoa’s harbor, with stylized boats gliding across deep blue waters and the city’s distinctive skyline rising in the background. Flat, bold color fields and simplified architectural forms give the poster a graphic clarity typical of the Art Deco period. The use of crisp lines and geometric shapes ensures the scene is easily legible from a distance, a hallmark of effective travel advertising.
Blue dominates the sea and sky, while touches of green, yellow, and red add warmth and vibrancy to the cityscape. The overall mood is bright and inviting, making this piece an appealing choice for sea and ocean wall art enthusiasts. The poster’s confident style and harmonious palette continue to resonate with admirers of vintage Italian design.
In Interior Design
This vintage poster brings a sense of coastal elegance to living rooms, entryways, or home offices, especially in spaces that celebrate travel and light. Its clean lines and balanced composition suit both modern and classic interiors, while the harbor theme naturally complements Mediterranean-inspired decor.
Pairing the print with natural materials like wood and linen, or with ceramics in navy and sand tones, echoes its seaside origins. For a curated gallery wall, it combines effortlessly with map prints and other Italian travel posters, creating a narrative of exploration and discovery within your home.