Orient Line Cruises | 1930

Orient Line Cruises, 1930, by Frank Newbould

This captivating Art Deco travel poster showcases Frank Newbould's distinctive modernist style with bold, flat colours and geometric forms. The composition features a stylised Turkish or Middle Eastern musician in traditional dress, complete with a tall black fez, orange face with simplified features and a cheerful white moustache. He is depicted playing a red stringed instrument resembling a mandolin or lute while wearing a black and red traditional costume with vibrant accents. Behind him spreads a picturesque Mediterranean scene with white cubic buildings and turquoise waters, characteristic of coastal settlements in the region. Geometric shapes in yellow and teal add dynamic visual elements to the background. The poster is anchored by bold yellow lettering reading "ORIENT LINE" against a black banner at the bottom, with "CRUISES" in white text on an orange angled tab below, creating a striking visual hierarchy that draws attention to the shipping company's services.

This poster was created during a significant period for the Orient Steam Navigation Company, commonly known as the Orient Line. Established in the late 18th century, the company had evolved from a shipbroking business into a major British shipping enterprise by the 1930s. While the Orient Line predominantly operated passenger and mail services between Britain and Australia, by the 1930s it had expanded its offerings to include leisure cruises in the Mediterranean, reflecting the growing tourism industry of the interwar period. The 1930s proved challenging for shipping companies due to the Great Depression, prompting Orient Line to introduce "tourist class" accommodations to appeal to more budget-conscious travellers. This poster likely advertised these Mediterranean cruise offerings, which had become an important revenue stream for shipping companies as their traditional mail and passenger transport services faced economic pressures.

Frank Parkinson Newbould (1887-1951) was a significant British poster artist whose distinctive style helped define commercial art in the interwar period. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire, he studied at Bradford College of Art and Camberwell School of Art before establishing himself in London as a commercial artist. Newbould developed a reputation for bold, colourful travel posters that combined strong graphic elements with simplified but recognisable representations of landscapes and local culture. During the 1920s, he became one of the elite group of five artists contracted to work exclusively for the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), alongside fellow notable poster designers Tom Purvis, Austin Cooper, Frank Mason and Fred Taylor. His clients expanded to include the Empire Marketing Board, Great Western Railway, London Midland and Scottish Railways, and shipping companies including the Orient Line and Cunard Line. Newbould's artistic approach continued the tradition of flat pattern making established by artists like John Hassall, while incorporating elements of post-impressionism and modernism. During the Second World War, he joined the War Office as assistant to Abram Games, creating memorable propaganda posters including the patriotic "Your Britain, Fight for it Now" series.