Swissair – Japan – Uemura Shōkō, 1968, 25 × 38.5 in
Description
Vintage travel poster commissioned by Swissair in 1968 to promote flights to Japan. The design features a geisha in kimono with the word “JAPAN” printed in metallic gold ink, a printing detail often used in Japanese tourism posters of the period to emphasize luxury and refinement. The artwork is derived from Uemura Shōkō’s 1936 painting Jo no Mai, a study of a Noh dance prelude. Uemura worked in the Nihonga tradition, which fused traditional Japanese painting techniques with modern presentation, making his imagery a natural fit for mid-century cultural promotion. This original offset lithograph was printed in Japan, mounted on linen, and remains in excellent “A” condition.
Artist: Uemura Shōkō
Date: 1968 Printer: Japan Tourist Association (for Swissair) Print Type: Offset lithograph (with metallic gold) Condition: Excellent “A,” linen backed
Comments: Original Swissair travel poster for Japan, featuring Uemura Shōkō’s celebrated Jo no Mai image in the Nihonga style. Linen mounted and in excellent condition.
This original 1985 poster was created by Pegge Hopper for United Airlines to promote travel to Hawaii. Hopper is known for her stylized depictions of Hawaiian women and landscapes, often using simplified forms, strong outlines, and rich color harmonies that recall the work of Paul Gauguin in the South Pacific. The image reflects her distinctive interpretation of island life, emphasizing atmosphere, pattern, and the lush presence of tropical foliage.
Trained in design in California in the 1950s, Pegge Hopper later worked in Milan before settling in Hawaii, where the local environment became the central subject of her work. This airline commission belongs to the broader tradition of mid- to late-20th-century travel posters, combining commercial purpose with an artist’s personal vision of place. The poster is an offset lithograph, printed on paper and professionally mounted on linen, and survives in excellent condition.
Artist: Pegge Hopper
Size: 22.5 x 27 in
On/Off Linen: On linen
Print Technique: Offset lithograph
Year: 1985
Condition: Excellent
Comments: Original United Airlines to Hawaii poster by Pegge Hopper, 1985; clean, well-preserved example on linen with strong color, ready to frame
