Monaco | 1937

Monaco, 8 Août 1937, by Geo Ham

This striking Art Deco poster depicts the dramatic action of the Monaco Grand Prix with a vivid red racing car in the foreground, speeding along Monaco's famous coastal circuit. The driver, wearing a white helmet with protective goggles, leans into the curve. A silver-grey car follows closely behind on the curved coastal road. The Mediterranean setting is beautifully rendered with the iconic architecture of Monte Carlo rising up the hillside in soft beige and white tones, accented with touches of green foliage and palm trees. The deep turquoise blue of the Mediterranean Sea extends to the horizon on the right, dotted with small white boats. The poster is anchored by bold teal lettering at the bottom spelling "MONACO," with "8 AOÛT 1937" beneath, indicating the date of the race.

The 1937 Monaco Grand Prix was the ninth running of this prestigious motorsport event, held on 8th August on the challenging Circuit de Monaco street course. This race took place during what is often considered the golden age of Grand Prix racing, when German manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union dominated the sport with their technologically advanced "Silver Arrow" cars, heavily subsidised by the Nazi government. The 1937 season saw some of the most powerful Grand Prix cars ever built, with Mercedes-Benz fielding supercharged 5.6-litre engines producing nearly 650 horsepower. The 1937 Monaco race was won by German driver Manfred von Brauchitsch driving a Mercedes-Benz W125, with his teammate Rudolf Caracciola taking pole position and setting the fastest lap time. This would be the last Monaco Grand Prix for eleven years, as the 1938 race was cancelled due to economic depression, and the outbreak of World War II prevented further races until 1948.

Georges Hamel (1900-1972), who signed his work as "Geo Ham," was a celebrated French artist who specialised in automotive and aviation art. Born in Laval, France, Ham developed a fascination with racing cars from the age of 11 and later became a part-time race car driver himself, competing in events such as the 1932 Monte Carlo Rally and the 1934 24 Hours of Le Mans. This first-hand racing experience gave exceptional authenticity to his artwork. After studying at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris, Ham established himself as one of the foremost automotive artists of his era, with his work regularly featured in prestigious publications like L'Illustration. His distinctive style featured bright colours, dynamic compositions, and recurring motifs like billowing scarves and palm trees. Ham was officially appointed as a "Peintre de l'Air" (Air Painter) in 1931, recognising his skill in aviation illustration. He designed six consecutive Monaco Grand Prix posters from 1933 to 1948, establishing himself as the definitive visual chronicler of this iconic race during its pre-war golden era.