Air France Spain | 1962

Air France Spain, 1962, by Guy Georget

This striking modernist poster showcases Guy Georget's distinctive graphic style for Air France's Spanish route promotion. Set against a vibrant blue background representing the Mediterranean sky, the composition features bold geometric forms and a sophisticated colour palette. The design presents a stylized silhouette of a Spanish figure in black, holding a purple fan. To the left stands an ochre-coloured tower or cathedral spire, likely representing the Giralda in Seville. The figure wears a flamenco-inspired red lower garment, while the internal structure includes dramatic red and yellow geometric forms that evoke Spanish colours. The text "AIR FRANCE" is prominently displayed in bright yellow at the top, with "spain" in lowercase black lettering beneath it, creating a powerful visual hierarchy that balances artistic expression with commercial messaging.

This poster was created during a pivotal period in Spain's tourism development. In the early 1960s, Franco's regime was actively embracing international tourism as part of its economic liberalisation strategy, moving away from the earlier policies of autarky and isolation. Tourism became central to Spain's economy and international image, growing from just 4 million visitors in 1959 to over 30 million by the mid-1970s. The Ministry for Information and Tourism, established in 1951, was actively promoting Spanish tourism abroad with campaigns emphasising Spain's unique cultural identity. This Air France poster from 1962 captures this moment when Spain was opening to the world, with foreign airlines and tourism organisations promoting Spanish destinations to an increasingly mobile European population seeking Mediterranean sunshine, cultural experiences, and affordable holidays.

Guy Georget (1911-1992) was a highly regarded French commercial artist whose career spanned from the late 1940s through the 1960s. Initially hired by tourist boards to create posters promoting Spain, his early works showed clear influences of Picasso and Georges Braque. Georget's artistic style evolved significantly throughout his career, moving from more traditional approaches to increasingly graphic, bold compositions with vibrant colours and simplified forms that epitomised mid-century modern design aesthetics. His association with Air France represented a prestigious commission, as the airline was among France's most important commercial enterprises of the era. In 1960, Georget achieved significant recognition when he designed the official logo for France's postal service "La Poste," cementing his reputation as one of the country's leading graphic designers.