THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES: A SET OF SIX COCA-COLA VINTAGE ART POSTERS MADE BY FAMOUS ILLUSTRATORS

Coca-Cola Vintage Posters

Yes, I like publicity posters. They are one of the subjects of my visual research (Lacer/actions) about torn and decomposed outdoor advertisings. But I also like advertisings in general… Some weeks ago I found in my attic an interesting set of six vintage rare Coca-Cola posters. They laid aside in an old wardrobe… They reproduce beautiful vintage art created by famous artists. I think that the series was printed in 80’s reproducing original works by N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Ella Dolbar and Massengale. They are in a good condition. Some pieces of true popular art…

Throughout its history, The Coca-Cola Company has captured the spirit of the times through its advertising art. From its first promotional calendars produced in the 1890s, the Company linked itself to the popular designs and lifestyles of the era the art represents. The Coca-Cola Company used the work of the top artists of the day, including the leading artists of America’s Golden Age of Illustration. The famous illustrators produced paintings for The Coca-Cola Company from the turn of the century into the 1960s, when their art form was replaced by photography in the Company’s advertising.

Much of the work of artists working on behalf of The Coca-Cola Company is beautifully displayed in a book, “Coca-Cola Girls: An Advertising Art History by Chris H. Beyer” (Collectors Press, Inc.). The earliest use of an artist’s signature by The Coca-Cola Company was on the work of Hamilton King, who illustrated the beautiful “Coca-Cola girls” for calendars from 1910 to 1913. His work also appears on serving trays.

Over the next quarter century, the Company used a wide variety of illustrators, some of whom signed their works. But most did not. The anonymous craftsmen produced lavish illustrations with deep colors that graced calendars and other promotional pieces. In the mid 1920s, The Coca-Cola Company began working with a young illustrator who would become synonymous with both Coca-Cola and Santa Claus. His name was Haddon H. Sundblom. Other famous illustrators who created works for Coca-Cola included: Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945), Gil Elvgren (1914-1980), Fredrick Mizen (1888-1964), Frederic Stanley (1892-1967) and Commissioned Folk Art.

For contacts: ro.alb@alice.it