There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.
Object Timeline
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Poster, Fashions in Flight
This is a Poster. It was designed by E. McKnight Kauffer and published by American Airlines and made for (as the client) Mr. Bernard Waldman. It is dated 1946 or 1947 and we acquired it in 1963. Its medium is lithograph. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
Bernard Waldman commissioned this poster to earn the attention and investment of American Airlines for a full campaign. Kauffer chose an unusual color combination to portray a winged helmet, perhaps to suggest the flapping wings of the American Airlines eagle logo. Fashions in Flight messaged the stylish experience of air travel.
This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Fashions in Flight.
This object was
donated by
Mrs. Edward McKnight Kauffer.
It is credited Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- Poster, L'Initiation
- offset lithograph on wove paper.
- Gift of Sara and Marc Benda.
- 2010-21-97
- Print, Mercury, plate from a suite of 6 ornamental designs with the Judgement...
- engraving on laid paper.
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1921-6-528-6
![A heroic vision of the mythological figure of Mercury, the Roman god of commerce and a messenger, flying diagonally from upper right to lower left, in a silvery grey and white, against a light brown background. His arms are extended, gathering air waves -- portrayed as a series of four parallel curved lines with irregular jagged movement -- emanating from the bottom left corner of the Art Deco image. Mercury is classically depicted in the nude with a lean muscularity, is shown with his right leg tightly bent with the foot tucked underneath, while the left leg is almost fully extended. Both feet feature short wings extruding from the ankle bone, giving him the advantage of speed as well as a sleek appearance. This is depicted with his long hair swept backward, under which a cape-like trail illustrates his path. His face is punctuated with a triangular nose and intense, dark eyes; his mouth is open. Motifs of parallel, curved lines, grouped at its initiating points, are splayed across the image. The background scene is punctuated with small celestial bodies of varying stars and planets. Four small images of stands are irregularly spaced along the bottom of the piece; thin, vertical lines extend from the two middle stands, giving the piece the appearance of three panels. Along the top is the text [Communication Hall] in capital letters, with the appearance of a carved etching. The commission, designed for sandblasted glass and intended for the Radio and Communication Building at the 1933 fair was never executed.](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/309967_1bbc31ddc97515c2_n.jpg "Drawing, Design for Sand-Blasted Glass Mural: Mercury Gathering Air Waves Amidst Planets and Stars")
- Drawing, Design for Sand-Blasted Glass Mural: Mercury Gathering Air Waves...
- brush and white gouache, black wash, graphite on tan paper.
- Museum purchase from Drawings and Prints Council Fund.
- 2001-10-1
Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.
![A lithograph on paper poster for the Office of Emergency Management in 1942. In the center a blue head in left facing profile wears a black pointed helmet with blue stars covering the forehead, and hazy pale blonde hair is seen to the side and under the helmet. The head is set in front of a series of red and white stripes, five red and four white, which, in conjunction with the stars on the helmet, suggests the American flag. Below on a right directional diagonal capitalised red Spanish text reads [LUCHAMOS], meaning [WE FIGHT]; with capitalised blue Spanish text beneath it which reads [POR LA LIBERTAD DE TODOS], meaning [FOR THE FREEDOM OF ALL]. The poster is signed in the center right, in the bottom red stripe, [E. McKnight Kauffer] in red printed ink. It is inscribed in black ink in the bottom right margin [Publicado por El Coordinator de Asuntos Interamericanos, Washington, E. U. A].](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/346743_33d67fe35922121b_n.jpg "Poster, Luchamos por la Libertad de Todos (We Fight for the Freedom of All)")
- Poster, Luchamos por la Libertad de Todos (We Fight for the Freedom of All)
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-112-a
![A lithograph on paper poster for the National War Fund in 1942. A helmeted head in black semi-silhouette in left profile is set against a blue night sky. Superimposed on the head to the right is a large Greek flag, with its blue and white stripes and white cross at the top left corner, fluttering towards the right. Below the head and to the left is a silhouette of a classical temple with columns and a pediment with grey, white and black clouds floating above it and a white star parallel to the chin of the head. Capitalised white serif text printed diagonally to the right reads [GREECE]; followed by capitalised yellow, sans serif text which states [FIGHTS ON]. The poster is signed and dated in the bottom right corner in grey printed script [E. McKnight Kauffer '42].](https://images.collection.cooperhewitt.org/346954_84edbddb60b5134f_n.jpg "Poster, Greece Fights On")
- Poster, Greece Fights On
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-109
Its dimensions are
86.7 × 60.8 cm (34 1/8 × 23 15/16 in.)
It is signed
Printed in script in chartreuse ink, center right: E. McKnight Kauffer
Cite this object as
Poster, Fashions in Flight; Designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, active England, 1890–1954); USA; lithograph; 86.7 × 60.8 cm (34 1/8 × 23 15/16 in.); Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer; 1963-39-132
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer.
