Air France Paris New York 1951

This vibrant 1951 poster by the artist Guerra captures the romance and cosmopolitan dynamism of transatlantic travel at the dawn of the Jet Age. Commissioned by Air France, the composition unites two iconic cities—Paris and New York—in a single, seamless visual narrative.

In the foreground, the Parisian café culture is depicted in full swing, with elegantly dressed patrons sipping coffee on a sunlit terrace. Behind them, the Arc de Triomphe grounds the viewer unmistakably in France. Yet, the right side of the composition shifts into a dreamlike American skyline: the Statue of Liberty rises amid a swirl of stars, evoking the American flag, optimism, and international friendship. Above, a Lockheed Constellation aircraft glides effortlessly between worlds.

More than a destination ad, this poster was a statement of postwar recovery, global connectivity, and aspirational modernity. Guerra’s crisp lines and radiant color palette mirror the stylistic clarity of mid-century design, while the dual imagery reflects the symbolic bridge between Europe and America—a bridge that Air France proudly helped to establish.

This piece remains a poignant reminder of an era when air travel was still an event, and posters like these invited the world to take part in a new age of elegance, exploration, and cultural exchange.

Airline - Aviation - Tourism - France

Statue of Liberty - Champs Élysées - Arc de Triomphe

Printed by Alépée & Cie in Paris

Bon étatlégères restaurations