Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Unknown
Circa 1900 poster for Montgolfière Française - hot air ballooning

Circa 1900

$1,198.14
£891.77
€1,000
CA$1,641.16
A$1,825.33
CHF 953.13
MX$22,212.26
NOK 12,172.90
SEK 11,416.03
DKK 7,612.65
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

The circa 1900 poster for Montgolfière Française, produced by the Parisian printing house Clamaron-Graff at 57 Rue de Vaugirard, is a striking example of early aviation art that captures the wonder and excitement surrounding hot air ballooning in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This poster, promoting a French hot air balloon, depicts the grandeur of flight at a time when aviation was still in its infancy, evoking both a sense of adventure and national pride. At the center of the composition is the grand montgolfière, or hot air balloon, rising gracefully into the sky. The balloon itself is large and imposing, depicted with a woven netting design that gives it a textured, three-dimensional appearance. The balloon is tinted in warm, earthy hues, contrasting with the cool blues and soft clouds of the background sky. This visual contrast serves to emphasize the balloon's towering presence and its ability to dominate the expansive heavens. The gentle shading and detailed lines reflect the craftsmanship of the era’s lithographic printing techniques, capturing the elegance and precision that defined the artwork of the Belle Époque. Beneath the massive balloon, the basket is suspended by ropes, carrying two daring aeronauts. One of the figures, dressed in a typical formal suit of the time, stands at the edge of the basket, raising his hat in a gesture that suggests triumph and pride. The second figure, sitting in the basket, is depicted as the pilot, calmly managing the controls of the balloon as it ascends. The characters' postures convey a sense of command over this novel form of transportation, presenting the adventure of ballooning as both a thrilling and respectable endeavor. One of the most prominent elements of the poster is the presence of two French flags, one draped from the side of the balloon's basket and the other fluttering behind the balloon itself. These flags, rendered in vivid red, white, and blue, enhance the patriotic tone of the image, connecting the technological innovation of hot air ballooning with a sense of national pride. The inclusion of the French flags highlights the symbolic significance of the montgolfière as a distinctly French invention. Named after the Montgolfier brothers, who first successfully launched a hot air balloon in 1783, the balloon became an icon of French ingenuity and pioneering spirit in the realm of aviation. The sky around the balloon is softly rendered in delicate pastel tones, suggesting a calm and serene environment high above the earth. The light clouds, barely noticeable, add to the dreamlike quality of the scene, enhancing the sense of weightlessness and freedom that comes with flight. The open expanse of sky also reflects the sense of limitless potential that hot air ballooning represented during this period—when the possibility of exploring the skies was becoming more tangible, though still a wonder for many spectators. The bottom of the poster contains the imprint of the printer, Imp. Clamaron-Graff, noting its location on Rue de Vaugirard, Paris. This detail is important, as it links the poster to the broader context of Parisian print culture during the Belle Époque, a time when posters and advertisements were a significant part of the urban landscape. Posters like this one were not only promotional tools but also works of art, often displayed on the streets of Paris and other cities to capture the public’s attention. The Montgolfière Française poster is both a tribute to the pioneering spirit of aviation and a celebration of French contributions to the field. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hot air ballooning was one of the most exciting forms of exploration, allowing humans to soar above the earth in a way that had previously been unimaginable. This poster captures the optimism and sense of adventure that defined this era, positioning the hot air balloon as both a technological marvel and a symbol of human achievement. In summary, the circa 1900 Montgolfière Française poster is a beautifully crafted visual representation of the awe and excitement surrounding early aviation. With its patriotic imagery, detailed design, and celebration of French innovation, it stands as a testament to the pioneering era of hot air ballooning. The combination of artistic beauty and historical significance makes this poster not only a piece of advertising but also a reflection of the spirit of discovery and adventure that characterized the turn of the century. Original Poster Aviation Clamaron Paris
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1900
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20.48 in (52 cm)Width: 16.15 in (41 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Good condition, traces of folds, on linen.
  • Gallery Location:
    PARIS, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1792215285042

More From This Seller

View All
1909 original poster for The Conquest of the Air published by Le Petit Journal
Located in PARIS, FR
The 1909 original poster for "La Conquête de l'Air" (The Conquest of the Air), published by Le Petit Journal, celebrates the 1er Meeting Aérien de Reims (the First Aerial Meeting in ...
Category

Early 1900s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Linen, Paper

1910 original poster by Geo Bric "Le Zodiac III" dirigible balloon
Located in PARIS, FR
In 1910, Geo Bric unveiled his original poster "Le Zodiac III", featuring an airship or dirigible balloon. This remarkable artwork depicted the sleek and majestic form of the airship...
Category

1910s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

Oriignal poster produced around 1950 - Air conquest by dirigible balloons
Located in PARIS, FR
A beautiful poster produced around 1950, showing the various dirigible balloons that contributed to the conquest of the air. Indeed, the discovery of balloons revolutionized our rel...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

Circa 1910 original aviation poster by Calmont titled L'atterrissage au couvent
Located in PARIS, FR
The circa 1910 original aviation poster by Calmont titled "L'atterrissage au couvent" is a captivating piece that captures the excitement and novelty of aviation during the early 20t...
Category

1910s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

1921 original poster by Georges Villa : Avion dans les nuages
By Georges Villa
Located in PARIS, FR
In 1921, French artist Georges Villa created a remarkable poster that captured the spirit of early aviation and the pioneering visionaries who shaped the skies. Known for his keen ar...
Category

1920s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Belle Époque original poster by Albert Guillaume - La nouvelle chasse à courre
By Albert Guillaume
Located in PARIS, FR
In the golden age of Belle Époque Paris, the world of art and satire converged with a vibrant energy, encapsulating the spirit of the era. Among the luminaries who illuminated this p...
Category

Early 1900s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Linen, Lithograph, Paper

You May Also Like

Original Vintage Poster, Hot Air Balloon, Montgolfier, 1925
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Original Vintage Poster-Rare Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix-Lyon Air Club, 1925 Hot air balloons are shown on the poster. In the foreground, men are in a nacelle in flight. Additional ...
Category

20th Century French Art Deco Posters

Materials

Paper

Italian Contemporary Handmade Hot-Air Balloon Colored Print with Frame 1 of 3
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Funny and elegant press print made in Italy, representing a hot-air balloon, hand-colored by skilled Florentine artisans, hand-coated white frame. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Prints

Materials

Wood, Paper

"Globe Aerostatique" a Hand-Colored Engraving, after Claude Louis Desrais
Located in valatie, NY
"Globe Aerostatique" a gilt framed hand-colored Engraving, French circa 1787, after Claude Louis Desrais, (1746-1816.) A pastoral scene featuring a tricolored balloon at the center. ...
Category

Antique 1780s French Prints

Materials

Wood, Paper

Italian Contemporary Handmade Hot-Air Balloon Colored Print with Frame 3 of 3
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Important and elegant hand colored press print representing the "discobulus of Myron". The frame is in black painted and patinated wood, mat is in dark red. The statue of Myron’s discus...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Prints

Materials

Wood, Paper

Original Antique Travel Poster Compagnie Franco Roumaine De Navigation Aerienne
Located in London, GB
Original antique travel advertising poster for the Compagnie Franco Roumaine de Navigation Aerienne / French Romanian Company for Air Transport featuring great artwork of a plane fly...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Posters

Materials

Paper

Aeronaut's End in 1819: Mme. Blanchard's Balloon Tragedy in Paris
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: "Tragic Ascents: The Dramatic Death of Mme. Blanchard in 1819" Description: This compelling print captures a tragic moment in aviation history—the fiery death of Mme. Sophie ...
Category

Antique 1810s Prints

Materials

Paper