Created circa 1940 by José Morell Macías, this original French-language travel poster promotes the Canary Islands as one of Spain’s most colourful and distinctive destinations. Published by the Spanish National Tourist Office, it was printed in colour lithography by Seix y Barral in Barcelona.
The composition is dominated by two figures wearing traditional island dress. A standing woman raises a white handkerchief as her voluminous pink and red skirt opens across the centre of the image, while a second figure in blue, white and yellow completes the animated scene. Their gestures suggest a traditional dance or festive celebration.
Behind them, brilliant green palm leaves evoke the subtropical vegetation of the archipelago. At the left, a delicately rendered harbour, ships and distant volcanic hills introduce the Canary Islands’ Atlantic landscape. Morell combines these descriptive details with broad areas of pure colour, creating a composition that is immediately readable from a distance.
The monumental word “Espagne” appears in orange against a deep black ground, with “Canaries” printed discreetly beneath it. The French text demonstrates that the poster was intended for international distribution, presenting the islands through their traditional costumes, maritime setting and warm climate.
José Morell Macías was a Catalan painter, illustrator and influential poster designer active during the first half of the twentieth century. Particularly admired for his Spanish tourism campaigns, he developed a confident visual language combining painterly observation, simplified forms and strong colour contrasts. With its vibrant palette and elegant depiction of Canarian culture, this original poster is especially appealing to collectors of Spanish travel advertising, island imagery and twentieth-century graphic design.
Original Poster
Tourism - Spain
Seix y barral
Good condition, traces of folds
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