Deutsche Lufthansa 1936

The 1936 original poster by Ludwig Hohlwein, created for Deutsche Lufthansa, presents a striking image that intertwines aviation and Olympic symbolism. This poster, though not an official Olympic Games poster, cleverly capitalizes on the 1936 Berlin Olympics to promote Lufthansa, Germany's national airline, as the ideal means of travel to the international event.

Central to the design is a Junkers JU 52, an iconic aircraft of the era, flying majestically over the Olympic flag and the Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin's most recognizable landmarks. The inclusion of the Olympic flag is a clear nod to the games, a global event that was being heavily promoted at the time, with Berlin as its host city. However, the poster itself remains an advertisement for Lufthansa rather than an official part of the Olympic promotional materials.

In the foreground stands a statue, representing a key figure in German aviation history: Otto Lilienthal, the "Glider King." Lilienthal, a pioneer of early aviation, was renowned for his significant contributions to flight and glider design in the late 19th century. The statue depicted in the poster is based on a real monument from 1914, honoring Lilienthal's legacy. In Hohlwein’s rendering, the figure is adorned with a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory and evoking the Olympic spirit of excellence and achievement.

The use of Lilienthal’s image, along with the modern airliner soaring above, draws a line between Germany’s early aviation feats and its contemporary technological advancements, represented by Lufthansa’s fleet. The wreath further suggests the airline’s association with the grandeur of the Olympic Games, indirectly promoting the airline as part of the prestige and modernity that the games symbolized.

Though not an official Olympic poster, this work reflects the intense nationalistic pride of pre-World War II Germany, using both historical and contemporary achievements to showcase Lufthansa as a leader in air travel. The connection to the Olympics, a major international spectacle, helped underscore the airline’s role in connecting Germany to the world. This visually compelling and historically significant poster remains a rare artifact from this era of aviation and Olympic history, illustrating how major events were used to bolster national industry.

Airline - Olympic Games - Germany

A Junkers JU 52 flying over the Olympic flag and Berlin's Brandenberg Gate. The figure in the foreground is based on a 1914 statue of German aviator Otto Lilienthal, a pioneer of early aviation who was known as the "Glider King." Here the statue is shown with a laurel wreath to signify the games. In spite of its Olympic references, this extremely rare poster is not an official Olympic poster. It uses the Olympic Games to advertise Germany's national airline as a means of traveling to the competition. The two most famous Olympic posters from the 1936 games

Printed by Kunstanstalt in Munchen

Good condition