Juarez Mexico Travel Poster – Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua wall art – Magallon 1948
This superb vintage Juarez Mexico Travel Poster perfectly captures the essence of the sun-drenched, rugged terrain that surrounds the Mexican city of Cuidad Juarez.
The city is located in the northernmost region of Mexico and is more commonly known as Juarez. It is a vibrant city that shares its border with El Paso, Texas, in the United States. Situated within the state of Chihuahua it plays a pivotal role as a border city, fostering a close connection between Mexico and the United States.
The poster’s stunning image was illustrated by the Spanish artist José Luis Sanz Magallon who has beautifully depicted the Juarez countryside. The landscape is a sprawling desert expanse, characterised by its seemingly endless stretches of arid terrain. The distinctive and captivating wilderness unfolds in a palette of earthy tones, with golden sands, dusty plains, and rocky formations, creating a striking contrast against the clear, blue skies that often grace this part of Mexico.
Magallon’s image carefully portrays this rugged region with its abundance of cacti and agave plants that are a defining feature of the Juarez countryside. The landscape is dotted with various cactus species, including the iconic Saguaro cacti, Cholla cacti, and the Mexican giant cordon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei). These majestic plants stand tall and proud, adding a unique charm and a splash of colour to the arid environment.
Growing among the cacti, the Agave Tequilana plant, commonly known as blue agave, holds particular significance to Mexicans, because the plant is essential in the production of tequila, a popular Mexican distilled beverage. The blue agave’s spiky leaves and striking appearance are a hallmark of the region’s flora.
The Juarez region is known for its abundance of sunshine. With a climate characterised by hot summers and mild winters, it basks in the warmth of the sun all year round. This sunny climate enhances the region’s natural beauty, casting a golden glow on the desert landscape.
A closer examination of Magallon’s poster artwork, reveals the small, white-painted houses, adorned with their distinctive red-tiled roofs, scattered across the rolling hills in the distance. The twin towers and the crimson-domed roof of the local church that loom over the city also come into focus and complete the impressive panorama.
A black panel at the foot of the poster explains that the poster was published and produced by the Direccion General De Turismo, and is accompanied by text that reads Juarez No. 89. Mexico I.D.F.
Other vintage Mexico travel posters:
While the vintage Juarez Mexico Travel Poster featured in this listing is without doubt one our favourites, it is just one of many such treasures in our Worldwide Travel Mexico collection. Currently, we include more than a dozen remarkable posters from the Mexican Republic. And, we are adding new ones all the time. These posters beautifully capture the enchantment of Mexico, from its breathtaking landscapes to its rich culture and history. We’re thrilled to present half a dozen more that we also love, each possessing its own unique charm,
Our first choice would probably be the Mexico Go Greyhound poster. Designed and produced for North America’s Greyhound Lines intercity bus service The brightly coloured image depicts a wonderful artist rendering of the Mesoamerican step-pyramid Temple of Kukulcán that dominates the North Platform of Chichen Itza. The poster also includes a close-up of Kukulcán, the famous stone sculpture of a feathered serpent that snakes its way down the west face of the northern stairway on the 79 feet high pyramid known as El Castillo. Both elements form part of the impressive ruins of Chichén Itzá, a dazzling ancient city that once centered the Maya empire in Central America.
Chichen Itza’s worldwide notoriety, and historical, cultural, and natural significance ensure that the sacred city is one of the most popular features of many Mexico travel posters. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and is one of the most visited archeological sites in Mexico with around 2.6 million tourists visiting each year. So, we make no apologies for including another one on our list.
Our second choice would be a wonderfully illustrated Air France Mexico poster created by the French artist Serge Proust in the 1950s. It was originally produced and published by airline company to promote direct air flights between Paris and Mexico. In this one, Prout offers us a different view of Kukulcán and his stone Temple in the arid desert sparsely sprinkled with cacti and agave plants. It also features a traditionally dressed Mexican sitting a modern Constellation airplane flying over the ancient city.
Continuing with the Aztec culture, our next poster features the Mexica sun stone and several Aztec gods crafted in a typically Mexican art style. The large stone artifact, also known as the Aztec Calendar Stone and , often described as the pride of Indian culture, is a large stone artifact created by the Aztecs. It features intricate carvings and a central image of the sun god Tonatiuh. The carvings represent aspects of Aztec cosmology, religion, and history, including the 20 days of the Aztec month and the four eras of creation and destruction. It’s a significant symbol of Aztec culture.
The Aztecs aren’t the only indigenous peoples to feature in vintage Mexico travel posters. Our next choice features the Zapotec people of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. The beautiful Oaxaca travel poster from the last century that was painted by Mexican painter and illustrator Miguel Covarrubias. It depicts three Mexicans regailed in traditional costume and crowned with feathered headdresses that are so large, they defy gravity. The men leap, twirl and shake rattles as they perform their captivating rendition of the traditional folk dance Danza de la Pluma or Dance of the Feather in front of local villagers and children.
To continue with the dancing theme, we’ve incorporated a 1930s Veracruz Mexico Travel Poster. This delightful artwork, crafted by an anonymous artist, showcases a captivating scene of a flamenco-dancing senorita gracefully moving under the light of a blue moon and the shimmering nighttime stars. While it might appear that the woman is the central focus of the illustration, she is eclipsed by the striking array of native flowers that take center stage. The composition is adorned with an assortment of large, indigenous blooms, including palm leaves, roses, lilies, and marigolds, which together create a vibrant, vivid, and utterly captivating visual spectacle.
With so many fabulous Mexico travel posters to choose from and only one places left, it’s been a difficult decision but we’ve opted to feature a great Air France Mexique poster created for Air France. The poster was created by the French artist Guy Georget but carry’s all the hallmarks of Mexican art. In the brightly coloured print we are treated to the sight of a Mexican musician busking some tunes in the shade of a towering palm tree. We don’t think he’s going to get many tips though, not sitting that far away from town!
These vintage Mexico travel posters not only serve as beautiful decor but also transport you to the enchanting destinations they depict. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or simply dreaming of your next adventure, these posters are a window to the captivating beauty of Mexico’s diverse landscapes and culture.
