Reise-Bade-Artikel | 1920s

Grosser Verkauf Reise-Bade-Artikel, circa 1925, Designer Unknown

This striking Art Deco poster advertises a major sale ("Grosser Verkauf") of travel and bathing articles ("Reise-Bade-Artikel") in Germany during the mid-1920s. The image showcases two stylish young women in fashionable bathing costumes relaxing on a beach. One woman wears a purple one-piece suit while lounging at the foreground of the composition, whilst her companion in a red swimsuit with crossed back straps stands nearby. They are positioned beside a distinctive yellow beach tent or cabana with a red and white striped awning. The bright yellow structure creates a strong visual focal point against the blue sky and sea backdrop. In the distance, tiny figures can be seen enjoying the beach, emphasizing the leisure and recreational theme. The composition uses a bold, simplified style typical of commercial art from this period, with clean lines and a vibrant colour palette of yellows, reds, purples, and blues. The text "GROSSER VERKAUF" appears prominently at the top in white capital letters, while "Reise-Bade-Artikel" is positioned at the bottom in brown lowercase letters.

This poster was created during the Weimar Republic (1919-1933), a period of remarkable cultural flourishing in Germany following World War I. The mid-1920s represented a time of relative economic stability between the hyperinflation of the early 1920s and the Great Depression that would begin in 1929. Department stores in major German cities had become increasingly important retail venues, holding seasonal sales to draw shoppers. The poster reflects the changing social attitudes toward bathing wear and beach culture during this era. Women's swimwear had evolved dramatically from the heavy, modest garments of the pre-war period to more form-fitting and practical designs that offered greater freedom of movement. The one-piece suits shown in the poster, with their shortened skirts and exposed arms, would have been considered quite modern for the time, reflecting the "Neue Frau" (New Woman) ideal that emerged during the Weimar era—independent, athletic, and less restricted by Victorian-era modesty standards.