Portugal Poster – Fly TWA – David Klein – 1950s

Portugal Poster – Fly TWA – David Klein – 1950s

Bright, colourful and slightly abstract and designed by one of Trans Atlantic Airlines most popular artists, David Klein. What more could you want from a Portugal poster?

Klein has included an image of a Portuguese caravel at the bottom of the image. Historically, caravels were small, easily maneuverable sailing boats developed in the 15th century to explore along the West African coast and into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Klein has also featured an image of a beautiful mermaid or siren. As with many country’s, there are numerous connections to Portugal. A short but fascinating article on the Osalnes website claims a story of a mermaid was first told just before the year 1000. The storyteller being a Portuguese knight named Lord Barcelos who was the illegitimate son of the poet king Dionis. The website goes on to introduce the story with “We people from Galicia are people of the sea, with three of the four provinces in Galicia bordering the sea and it is in the sea that we find food to nourish our bodies and our imagination. And as the sea is home to many creatures, among its fascinating collection, a knight from Vilaxoan found one of those mermaids”. The article ends by suggesting that the family lineage had the name Marino and that the legend explains why there is a mermaid on the Marino de Vilaxoan coat of arms.  Which, in fact, it does. You can see the coat of arms here.

Yet another legend, one  about The Mermaid, the Fisherman and the Highlander eminates from Praia da Rocha. In an article on the Portugal resident website the tall is explained in detail. “Accordingly, the name Praia da Rocha translates to Rock Beach, which is related to a local legend regarding its origin.” it begins “‘One day, a mermaid arrived upon the clear shoreline and was greeted by a local fisherman. She had ventured from afar and, enticed by the calm and clear waters, decided to rest near the cliffside. Intrigued by the beautiful creature, the fisherman approached the mermaid and, aiming to impress her, proclaimed that all that surrounded her was his, for the sea had created that place and he was the son of the sea.” The article s worthy of ten minutes of you time to read in full.

There are two mermaid fountains at Rossio square, with 8 mermaids between them. The Baroque fountains were added to the square in 1889. Even more mermaids can be found in a lake at the Lisbon City Museum. Another connection can be found in the  tales of Iara being told in Portugese Brazil in South America. Enough Portuguese influence for Klein to include a mermaid in his poster.

For his final part of the poster design, Klein has featured a Portuguese moinho de vento or windmill. They are dotted all around the Portuguese countryside and particularly in coastal areas. These historic windmills have been used in the country since the 11th century. Most have a cylindrical shape with a conical roof and have canvas sails. Whilst most windmills in Portugal are painted white, Klein’s windmill is brightly coloured and has the sun’s rays shining brightly behind the four sails..

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears, or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £15. So you can bag a print and frame for a great price.