Mexico Paricutin Volcano Travel Poster – Michoacán Travel Poster – Volcano Wall Art
If you’re looking to make an explosive impact on your home decor, this dynamic, vibrant Mexico Paricutin Volcano Travel Poster is the perfect choice. Although the artist’s identity remains hidden in the ashes of time, their artwork, commissioned for the Asociacion Mexicana de Turismo or Mexico Tourist Association, is a lasting legacy that continues to burn brightly.
The dramatic image captures an extraordinary real-life event, not only in Mexican history but also in the annals of world history. The vintage Mexico Travel Poster depicts a nighttime eruption of the Paricutin volcano in 1943. It was an extraordinary and captivating geological event that garnered widespread attention and interest worldwide.
Incredibly, the Volcán de Parícutin came into existence, soared to over 1,000 feet in height, erupted dramatically on several occassions, and then settled into dormancy all within the astonishingly short span of just nine years.The unique event became the first, and so far, the only time in modern science to document the entire life cycle of an eruption of this type. During the volcano’s nine years of activity, scientists sketched and mapped it and took thousands of samples and photographs.
The Mexico Paricutin Travel Poster depicts a real life event
As the poster describes, Volcan Paricutin was ‘born’ in February 1943. The volcano began life as a crack or fissure, about six feet wide and 150 feet long, in the ground of a cornfield, near the town of Paricutin in the Mexican state of Michoacán, around 200 miles west of Mexico City. The farm owner, Dionisio Pulido, witnessed the initial eruption of ash and stones while ploughing his field.
The volcano grew rapidly, reaching a height equivalent to approximately five stories in just one week. Much of the volcano’s growth, exceeding 1,000 feet, occurred in 1943 during its explosive phase. Over the next eight years, it periodically erupted, eventually reaching a final height of approximately 1,391 feet.
Paricutín burst into life on February 20, 1943, around 4:00 pm local time. Within just 24 hours, this furious volcano had already reached a height of around 165 feet and was growing all the time whilst relentlessly spewing out volcanic ash and molten rock. Tons of ash fell from the sky, smothering vegetation and piling in dunes and drifts leaving a layer of volcanic dust upto nine feet.
By June 1943, lava began to flow from the volcano’s slopes, requiring the evacuation of two villages and hundreds of homes. During its first year, the volcano maintained its rumbling and relentless growth. Even the nations capital Mexico City some 200 miles away didn’t completely escape the volcanos wrath, seeing a cascade of ash descend upon it.
Over the next nine years, its eruptions grew less frequent, interspersed with extended periods of inactivity. By 1952, the Paricutín volcano had finally settled into dormancy, marking the end of its volcanic activity.
The Paricutin volcano eruption captured the world’s imagination due to its sudden appearance, the scientific opportunities it presented, extensive media coverage, and its impact on various aspects of society. Almost immediately, the eruption turned into a tourist attraction. People from different parts of Mexico and around the world travelled to witness the volcanic spectacle. The Departmento de Turismo de la Secretaria de Gobernacion in conjunction with the Asociacion Mexicana de Turismo and the Mexican Tourist Association were keen to capitalise on the remarkable natural phenomenon and soon commissioned a travel poster to promote the region.
The Paricutin Volcano Wall Art
The artist behind this captivating portrayal of the Paricutin volcano, rendered with vibrant shades of orange, purple, and black against the nighttime sky, appears to have masterfully captured the essence of Celedonio Gutierrez’s vivid account. Gutierrez, a resident of the neighboring village, San Juan Parangaricutiro, had chronicled the event in his handwritten diary. He eloquently described the eruption with these words: “As night descended, we heard a symphony of sounds resembling the surging sea, while crimson flames leaped skyward, some soaring to heights of 800 meters or more, bursting like resplendent marigolds. And from this fiery spectacle, a rain of artificial fire descended upon the earth.”
Today, Mexico’s most famous volcano lies dormant and, thanks to posters like the explosive one on this listing, has been transformed into a thriving tourist destination, with people climbing the volcano. The partially buried, lava-covered ruins of San Juan Parangaricutiro church nestled on the edge of the village of Paricutín has also evolved into a must-see attraction for visitors.
How much is an original Mexico Paricutin Volcano Travel Poster worth?
Travel posters, especially vintage ones, have long been treasured collectibles for enthusiasts, art lovers, and history buffs. The value of an original Mexico Paricutin Volcano Travel Poster can vary significantly depending on several factors. Age, rarity and condition tend to be the three most significant. The aesthetic quality and design of the poster also influence its value. If a poster features striking artwork, is the work of a renowned artist, or incorporates visually appealing design elements, collectors may be willing to pay more.
Posters associated with significant historical events, iconic destinations, or cultural movements can also be highly prized by collectors interested in preserving history. Original copies of posters such as this Mexico Paricutin Volcano Travel Poster offer a tangible connection to the past.
Original B-grade copies of this poster can be found for as little as £750… a great price for anyone wishing to start an original vintage poster collection. In better condition they can command prices upwards of £1,100, which is still a price that’s sits within the lower price bracket for vintage originals.
This is where our remarkable high-quality reproductions come into play. They’ll cost you a mere fraction of what an original would set you back and when framed and featured on your living room wall, they’ll look absolutely stunning!
Other vintage Mexico travel posters:
While the vintage Mexico Paricutin Volcano 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.
