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Modern Posters

MODERN STYLE

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaircrafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

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Style: Modern
Period: Late 20th Century
Reporters Original Vintage Film Poster by Cieslewicz, 1981
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Reporters original vintage fFilm poster by Cieslewicz, 1981 An original vintage poster to advertise the documentary film, REPORTERS by Raymond Depardon...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Linen, Paper

Jazz Festival Willisau by Niklaus Troxler, 1997
Located in Renens, CH
Jazz Festival Willisau 1997 Year : 1997 Measures: Width : 90cm x Height : 128cm Very good condition.
Category

1990s Swiss Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Barcelona Summer Olympic Poster 1992 by Artist Robert Llimós for the Xxv Games
Located in London, GB
Original Barcelona Summer Olympic Poster for the XXV Games by Artist Robert Llimós. Robert Llimós was born on 19 October 1943 in Barcelona. ...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Bally Ballet Original Vintage French Fashion Poster by Fix-Masseau, 1981
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
This is an original vintage poster linen backed for preservation Artist Fix-Masseau Year 1980 Dimensions 125 X 164cm Condition Good.
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Linen, Paper

Annie, Broadway Musical Window Card Poster, Alvin Theatre, 1977
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Annie Broadway Poster, Alvin Theatre 1977.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Barcelona Olympic 1992 Poster 'Olympiad Xxv' Designed by Addison
Located in London, GB
The 1992 Summer Olympics, officially known as the games of the XXV Olympiad and commonly known as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport event held from 25 July to 9 August...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Poster for Francis Bacon’s First Russian Exhibition Poster
Located in Pewsey, GB
This iconic poster was printed to advertise the first retrospective exhibition in Russia granted to a living British artist since the Russian Revolution, an event that provoked passi...
Category

Late 20th Century Russian Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

1971 Festival of Art Print Lithograph / Poster
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rare Ethan Allen 1971 Festival of Art Lithograph / Poster (have not been able to find another example of this print) great color - great mystery.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original 1992 Barcelona Olympic Poster Designed by Jean-Michel Folon
Located in London, GB
Jean-Michel Folon (1 March 1934 – 20 October 2005) was a Belgian artist, illustrator, painter, and sculptor The first exhibition of his watercolors was in New York in 1969 in the Lefebre Gallery. One year later he exhibited in Tokyo and in the Il Milione gallery in Milan. He also participated in the XXVth Venice Biennale. In 1973 he joined the selection of Belgian artists in the XXVth São Paulo Biennale, where he was granted the Grand Prize in Painting. Over the years his work concentrated on different techniques, including watercolor, etching, silkscreen, illustrations, mosaics, and stained glass, which showed the diversity of his art. His work Ein Baum stirbt - Un albero muore, 1974, is by Museo Cantonale d’Arte [de] of Lugano. He also designed numerous posters, often for humanitarian causes. Around 1988 he created his first sculptures made out of wood. He then moved on to creating sculptures in clay, plaster, bronze and marble, while continuing to paint. Several museums dedicated exhibitions to him, among them the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1971, the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam in 1976, the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 1977, the Musée Picasso in Antibes...
Category

1990s Belgian Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

2 Manifesti Anni 90, Pezzi di Design
Located in Felino, IT
Coppia di manifesti anni 90. Illustrano i pezzi in produzione nel periodo di Simongavina ed Alivar manifesto simongavina bifacciale dim 153 x 53 manifesto aliv...
Category

1990s European Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Barcelona Summer Olympic Poster 1992 Designed by Addison
Located in London, GB
The 1992 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad and commonly known as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport even...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

1984 Norma Andraud Modern Art Los Angeles Ca Many Feathers Embossed Poster
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1984 Norma Andraud Modern Art Los Angeles CA many feathers embossed poster Signature 19 x 27 Original unrestored vintage condition. See images provi...
Category

1980s Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Barcelona Olympic Poster 1992 by Eduardo Arroyo
Located in London, GB
Eduardo Arroyo Rodríguez (26 February 1937 – 14 October 2018) was a Spanish painter and graphic artist. He was also active as an author and set designer. Arroyo, who was born in M...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Barcelona 1992 Original Olympic Poster Designed by Guillermo Pérez Villalta
Located in London, GB
The painter Guillermo Pérez Villalta was born in 1948 in Cadiz. He studied architecture but eventually moved on to study painting. He moved to...
Category

1990s European Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

MOMA Exhibition Poster "The Modern Drawings" 1983 Featuring Man Ray
Located in South Charleston, WV
MOMA New York, 1983. 34.25" x 24.25", framed. Uncommon poster featuring the artwork of Man Ray ( (Emmanuel Radnitzky) on the poster with his work "Admiration of the Orchestrelle for the Cinematograph", 1919 reproduced for this poster for the exhibition "The Modern Drawing: 100 Works on Paper from The Museum of Modern Art" that ran from 26 October 1983...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

David Hockney Original Vintage Poster 'Parade Metropolitan Opera New York 1981'
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
David Hockney original vintage poster 'Parade Metropolitan Opera New York 1981' Created for the Opera Parade at the Metropolitan Opera in New...
Category

1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Barcelona 1992 Olympic Poster by Antonio Saura for the XXV Olympiad
By Antonio Saura
Located in London, GB
He began painting and writing in 1947 in Madrid while suffering from tuberculosis, having already been confined to his bed for five years. In his beginnings he created numerous drawings and paintings with a dreamlike surrealist character that most often represented imaginary landscapes, employing a flat smooth treatment that offers a rich palette of colors. He claimed Hans Arp and Yves Tanguy as his artistic influences. He stayed in Paris in 1952 and in 1954–1955 during which he met Benjamin Péret and associated with the Surrealists, although he soon parted with the group, joining instead the company of his friend the painter Simon Hantaï. Using the technique of scraping, he adopted a gestural style and created an abstract type of painting, still very colorful with an organic, aleatory design. The first appearances in his work of forms that will soon become archetypes of the female body or the human figure occur in the mid-1950s. Starting in 1956 Saura tackled the register of what will prove to be his greatest works: women, nudes, self-portraits, shrouds and crucifixions, which he painted on both canvas and paper. In 1957 in Madrid he founded the El Paso Group and served as its director until it broke up in 1960. During this period Saura met Michel Tapié. During the 1950s he had his first solo exhibition at the Rodolphe Stadler Gallery in Paris, where he regularly exhibited throughout his life. Stadler introduced him to Otto van de Loo in Munich and Pierre Matisse in New York City, both of whom exhibited his work and represented him, and eventually his paintings were collected by major museums. Limiting his palette to blacks, grays and browns, Saura asserted a personal style that was independent of the movements and trends of his generation. His work followed in the tradition of Velasquez and Goya. Starting in 1959 he began creating a prolific body of works in print, illustrating numerous books including Cervantes's Don Quijote, Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Nöstlinger's adaptation of Pinocchio, Kafka’s Tagebücher, Quevedo’s Three Visions, and many others. In 1960 Saura began creating sculptures made of welded metal elements which represented the human figure, characters and crucifixions. In 1967 he settled permanently in Paris, and joined the opposition to Francoist Spain. In France he participated in numerous debates and controversies in the fields of politics, aesthetics and artistic creation. He also broadened his thematic and pictorial register. Along with his Femmefauteuil (literally "Womanarmchair"), he also worked on the series "Imaginary Portraits",and Goya’s Dog...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Barcelona 1992 Olympic Poster by Josep Guinovart for the XXV Olympiad
Located in London, GB
Josep Guinovart (20 March 1927 in Barcelona – 12 December 2007 in Barcelona) was a Catalan painter most famous for his informalist or abstract expressi...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Barcelona Olympic Poster by Antoni Clavé for the XXV Olympiad
Located in London, GB
Antoni Clavé (5 April 1913 – 1 September 2005) was a Catalan master painter, printmaker, sculptor, stage designer and costume designer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design) for his work on the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. Clavé was one of Spain's best known and most celebrated artists. His work evolved from a baroque, ornamental style to a pure, minimal aesthetic. In his later years, his work is completely abstract, employing expressive lines and exploring the boundaries of collage, objet trove, shading, texture and color. He was trained at the School of Fine Arts, Barcelona, where he was taught by Angel Ferrant and Felix Mestres. With his works being influenced by artists such as Bonnard, Vuillard and Roualt. He is best known for his lyrical abstractions, works which combine paint with collage. Clavé fought in the Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War, and served as draughtsman for the Republican government. He arrived in France as a refugee in 1939 and went straight to Paris to work as an illustrator. His first one-man exhibition was held at the Au sans Pareil bookshop, 37 Avenue Kleber in Paris in 1940, where Max Ernst and other leading figures from the Dada movement had their first exhibitions in the 1920s. In 1944 Clavé met Picasso and began making figure compositions that were deeply influenced by Picasso's work, featuring kings, harlequins, children, and still lives. His theatrical designs have appeared on stages in New York, Munich, London and Paris, as well as in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. His works include sets for opera, theatre, and ballet, most notably for Roland Petit's ballet company, Les Ballets des Champs Elysees (1945-1951) including Los Caprichos (1946) Carmen (1949) and a comic ballet choreographed by Roland Petit called Deuil en 24 Heures.In 1951 he designed La maison de Bernarda Alba (The House of Bernarda Alba) for director Marcel Achard at the Theatre de l'Oeuvre in Paris, and in 1962, a production of The Marriage of Figaro for Maurice Sarrazin at Théatre de la cour de l'Archeveché in Aix-en-Provence. In 1957 Clavé began to design carpets and from 1960 he began to work on sculptural bas reliefs...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Coppia di Manifesti Simon Gavina, Anni 80
Located in Felino, IT
2 manifesti SimonGavina, anni '80 con illustrazioni dell'intera produzione del periodo. Bifacciali (vedi foto). Stampa su carta a forte spessore.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Poster, Boris Bucan 'PRODOR U SVEMIR' Astronaut, 1972
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Original vintage poster, Boris Bucan 'PRODOR U SVEMIR' Astronaut, 1972 Artist  Boris Bucan Year 1972 Dimensions  88×48 cm Condition  Excellent Condition Format  ...
Category

1970s Croatian Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

1971. Tuan, Poster / Advert
Located in Perpignan, FR
authentic 70s poster / vintage. Exhbition poster from museum in Paris. design by the artist Tuan. In good condition.
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

GIANNI VERSACE Poster created by Mimmo Rotella for Mostra Dialogue du Mode, 1987
Located in Milano, IT
Rara Locandina by Gianni Versace created by Mimmo Rotella for the exhibition held at the Palais Galliera, Musèe de la Mode et du Costume, in Paris. 1986-197. The Poster was made in 1...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Architectural Poster 'Georges Pompidou', Modern Art Museum 1977
By Alfred Widmer
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
ARTIST Jean Widmer CONDITION Excellent YEAR 1977 SIZE 220x160cm Format Linen backed This poster was created to advertise the opening of the modern art ‘Georges Pompidou...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Poster, Boris Bucan 'DILEMA', 1972
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Original vintage poster, Boris Bucan 'DILEMA', 1972 Artist: Boris Bucan Year: 1972 Dimensions: 88 × 48 cm Condition: Excellent condition Format: Unlinen backed...
Category

1970s Croatian Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Set of 4 Robert Loughlin Art Exhibition Invitation Postcards
Located in New York, NY
Robert Loughlin Art Exhibition invitation postcards. Sold as a set of 4. Hard to find Robert Loughlin exhibition invitations, printed on card stock, from his legendary show at Rick G...
Category

1990s North American Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Framed Pablo Picasso Print of “Guernica”
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Framed Pablo Picasso print of “Guernica” in great shape. Printed in 1987. Ready to hang. Original black frame presents well. Measures: 17.5” tall and 33”...
Category

1980s Spanish Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Barcelona Olympic 1992 Poster Designed by Addison for the XXV Games
Located in London, GB
The 1992 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad and commonly known as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport event held from 25 July to 9 August...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

20th Century Original Poster by Boris Bucan, 'Pianist', 1983 Croatia Art
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Artist: Boris Bucan Dimensions: 196 x 206 cm Condition: Excellent Year: 1988 Consisting of 6 separate sheets Bucan is an internationally renowned graphic desig...
Category

Late 20th Century Croatian Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

1974 Captain Beefheart Magic Band Unconditionally Guaranteed Promo Poster
Located in Dayton, OH
"Original 1970’s promotional poster for Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band for Unconditionally Guaranteed, featuring his often used salutation: Love ...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Vintage Olympic Poster for the Barcelona XXV Games Designed by Addison
Located in London, GB
The 1992 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad and commonly known as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport event held from 25 July to 9 August...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Andy Warhol Kestner-Gesellschaft 1981 Gallery Poster
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A vintage Warhol Kestner-Gesellschaft retrospective German gallery show poster which ran through Oct. 23rd-Dec. 13th 1981. Printed to the lower edg...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Poster, Boris Bucan 'Isaac Newton' 1972 Screenprint
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Original vintage poster, Boris Bucan 'Isaac Newton' 1972 Screenprint Artist  Boris Bucan Year 1972 Dimensions  88×48 cm Condition  Excel...
Category

1970s Croatian Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage French Bally Abstract' Shoe Poster, by Bernard Villemot, 1971
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Bernard Villemot was a French graphic artist known primarily for his iconic advertising images for Orangina, Bally Shoe, Perrier, and Air France. This clever design shows a male shoe...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Linen, Paper

Signed 1974 Charles Bragg New Orleans "Important Exhibition" Poster
Located in Pasadena, TX
Signed Charles Bragg Poster, 1974 From an exhibition in New Orleans. Can ship unframed. The poster has no glass but can be added.
Category

1970s North American Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

20th Century Original Poster by Boris Bucan, Croatian Art, 'Offenbach Musical'
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Artist: Boris Bucan Dimensions: 196 x 206 cm Condition: Excellent Consisting of 6 separate sheets Bucan is an internationally renowned graphic designer from Croati...
Category

Late 20th Century Croatian Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Collection of Five Chinese Posters from the Cultural Revolution
Located in Atlanta, GA
Five posters from Chinese cultural revolution era circa 1970s. Four depicts scenes from modern revolutionary opera, two with music scores and lyrics. Two from "the Story of Red Lanten", one from "The Red Female Army" and one from "Sha Family Village". Some with publication date and origin. These are from a New England Collection purchased directly in Beijing in the 80s. They are in a simple black poster frame. These stylized posters served as a wide range of propaganda during the cultural revolution in China. For history and background as well as many similar posters, see" Chinese Posters...
Category

1970s Chinese Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

20th Century Original Poster by Boris Bucan, 'Symphony Orchestra Lisinski' 1987
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Artist: Boris Bucan Dimensions: 196 x 206 cm Condition: Excellent Year: 1987 Consisting of 6 separate sheets Bucan is an internationally renowned graphic desig...
Category

Late 20th Century Croatian Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

'Survival of The Fittest 1987' by Australian Artist Colin Russel, 1987
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
'Survival Of The Fittest 1987' by Australian artist Colin Russel, 1987 Colin Russel is an Australian artist who designed a series of political posters throughout the mid-80's, inc...
Category

1980s Oceanic Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

'White Australia Has A Black History' by Australian Artist Colin Russel, 1987
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
'White Australia Has A Black History' by Australian artist Colin Russel, 1987 Colin Russel is an Australian artist who designed a series of political ...
Category

1980s Oceanic Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

William Wolk 1982 Signed Poster
By William Wolk
Located in South Charleston, WV
William Wolk 1982, one of 3 works produced as posters by Bruce McGaw publishing. From William Wolk studio at The Greenbrier, purchased 1984 With Catalog of his work to back 36.25" x 26.25" x 1" Professionally framed in a brushed bronze tinted aluminum...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Aluminum

"Vijay Path" Ghanaian Movie Poster
Located in Chicago, IL
Vijaypath was a Bollywood action hit in 1994. It's critically acclaimed soundtrack topped charts across the world and became one of the most recognizable in India's history. The film...
Category

Late 20th Century Ghanaian Modern Posters

Materials

Fabric

Rare Signed Alvin Loving Poster Exhib at William Zierler Gallery
Located in New York, NY
Framed, signed poster by Alvin Loving (1935-2005). Below is an excerpt from an online source. Detroit-born Loving earned an MFA from the University of Michigan in 1965. He began hard edge painting of cubes and hexagons in 1967. After his first one-person exhibition at Gertrude Kasle gallery in Detroit in 1969, Loving launched his New York career. Gertrude Kasle provided Loving with letters of introduction to Harold Hart of Martha Jackson Gallery and Steven Wilde and Bert Walker, curators at the Whitney Museum of American Art, where he was given a critically acclaimed, one-person exhibition in 1969. Loving was the first of a group of African-American artists whose work was shown at the Whitney during the 1970s, including Frank Bowling, Frederick Eversley, Melvin Edwards...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Chrome

PLAKATY Original Polish Poster by Mieczysław Wasilewski, Circa 1970
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
PLAKATY Original Polish Poster by Mieczysław Wasilewski, Circa 1970 Mieczysław Wasilewski, born in Warsaw in 1942, was a student of Henryk Tomaszewski. A teacher at the Academy of F...
Category

1970s Polish Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

1978 Wayne Thiebaud "Downgrade" Boehm Gallery, Palomar College Exhibition Poster
Located in San Carlos, CA
Beautiful poster in great condition featuring California artist Wayne Thiebaud's painting "Downgrade" or "18th street downgrade" to announce a Wayne Thiebaud exhibition at the Boehm Gallery of Palomar College in San Marcos, California. This Wayne Thiebaud print...
Category

1970s North American Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie Luis Buñuel Vintage Cuban Movie Poster Reboiro
Located in Miami, FL
Silkscreen poster for Luis Buñuel’s 1972 film The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie by Antonio Fernández Reboiro. Surrealist designed of a skeletal rib cage with a set of carving...
Category

1970s Cuban Vintage Modern Posters

Materials

Paper

Pablo Picasso Poster for 1980 MOMA Exhibition
Located in Sheffield, MA
The self portrait lithograph poster announces a retrospective exhibition of the work of painter Pablo Picasso at MOMA open May 22, September 16, 1980. Great artwork by the notable S...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Posters

Materials

Steel

Modern posters for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern posters for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage posters created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern posters made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original posters, popular names associated with this style include OWO Ceramics, Razzia (Gérard Courbouleix–Dénériaz), Georges Mathieu, and Boris Bucan . It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for posters differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $49 and tops out at $19,112 while the average work can sell for $967.

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