Vintage Poster Archives
Arizona Santa Fe Railway 1949 | Don Perceval Travel Poster
Arizona Santa Fe Railway 1949 | Don Perceval Travel Poster
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Two cowboys on horseback ride through the Arizona desert, dwarfed by towering saguaro cacti against a brilliant blue sky. The composition depicts the romance of the American Southwest with purple and orange rock formations creating a landscape that epitomises the frontier spirit.
Designed by Don Louis Perceval for the Santa Fe Railway in 1949, part of the railroad's campaign to promote tourism to the Southwest. Perceval (1908-1979) was born in Essex, England, but moved to Los Angeles as a teenager, becoming captivated by southwestern landscapes and Native American culture during his studies at the Chouinard Art Institute.
This poster represents the golden age of railway travel advertising, when companies commissioned artists rather than agencies to create destination imagery. The Santa Fe Railway was particularly noted for its artistic approach to promoting western tourism.
A natural fit for anyone drawn to mid-century travel design, western Americana, or the visual history of American railways. The bold colour palette and composition work beautifully in modern interiors while carrying genuine historical weight.
