This stunning vintage travel poster from around 1950 showcases one of Thailand’s most iconic landmarks: the Royal Chapel of Wat Phra Keo (also spelled Wat Phra Kaew), nestled within the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok. A breathtaking celebration of Thai architecture and spiritual grandeur, the image captures the richly ornamented guardian demon (yaksha) statue in the foreground, facing the resplendent golden stupas and temple roofs that define this sacred site.
Printed as part of a mid-20th-century campaign to promote Thailand as an exotic and culturally rich travel destination, this poster served to entice international tourists by highlighting the country’s architectural marvels and serene spiritual heritage. The vibrant composition combines photographic realism with perfectly balanced layout design, drawing the viewer into a scene that is both majestic and reverent.
Wat Phra Keo is widely regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand, housing the famed Emerald Buddha. The elaborate detail in the traditional Thai architecture—multi-tiered roofs, gilded chedis, and mythological statuary—illustrates the nation’s deep-rooted reverence for both artistry and religion. In the image, a lone monk in orange robes walks through the temple grounds, symbolizing peace, tradition, and timeless devotion.
Issued by Thailand’s tourism board or national railway service during the post-war era, this poster is emblematic of how countries in Asia embraced international travel as a way to share their heritage with the world. It also reflects the increasing popularity of air travel and the rise of global tourism circuits during the 1950s.
Tourism - Photography - Religion - Thailand - Bhoudism
Interprint A/S in Denmark
Good condition, light folds, a tear
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