Egypt | 1960s

Egypt, 1960s, by David Klein

This vibrant travel poster features a striking close-up of a camel's head and neck against a brilliant blue sky, decorated with colourful tasselled adornments in shades of orange, red, and purple that hang prominently from its bridle. The foreground is dominated by this detailed camel portrait, while the background showcases iconic Egyptian landmarks including the Great Sphinx and pyramids of Giza rendered in golden yellow against the blue sky. A small silhouette of a TWA aircraft flies above, and in the lower right corner, a bedouin figure in traditional white robes leads another camel. The word "Egypt" appears in bold yellow script across the middle of the poster, with "FLY TWA" displayed prominently in red letters at the bottom.

This poster was created during the golden age of commercial aviation in the 1960s, when Trans World Airlines (TWA) was expanding its international presence under the ownership of Howard Hughes. During this period, TWA was extending its reach to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, becoming a truly global carrier. Between 1967 and 1972, TWA had grown to become the world's third-largest airline by passenger miles. The airline used striking graphic advertising to promote its expanding international routes, with posters like this one designed to entice affluent American tourists to exotic destinations. Egypt, with its ancient monuments and cultural heritage, was marketed as an exciting and glamorous destination accessible via TWA's modern jet service that had been fully implemented across their network by 1967.

David Klein (1918-2005) was an American artist whose career became inextricably linked with TWA's iconic advertising campaigns of the 1950s and 1960s. Born in El Paso, Texas, Klein studied at the Art Center School in Los Angeles and began his artistic career as a member of the California Watercolor Society before serving in the US Army during World War II. Klein developed a distinctive style characterised by bold colours, dramatic composition, and the ability to capture the essence of a destination in a single powerful image. Though he created illustrations for Broadway productions, Hollywood films, and various corporate clients, Klein is best remembered for his travel posters commissioned by Howard Hughes for TWA. His work for the airline earned numerous Awards for Excellence from the Society of Illustrators, and his New York City poster was significant enough to be included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.