Plaisirs d’Hiver en Autriche | 1952

Plaisirs d’Hiver en Autriche, 1952, by Fritz Grünbock

This vintage Austrian travel poster captures a joyful winter scene of two children sledding down a snowy slope. Dressed in traditional Alpine attire, the boy waves his feathered hat while the girl, wrapped in a bright red scarf, clings to him with a cheerful smile. Their clothing features rich details, such as embroidered patterns on the boy’s socks and the girl’s flowing blue and yellow dress. The background showcases an idyllic snow-covered mountain landscape with a distant church steeple, emphasizing Austria’s picturesque winter charm.

Produced in the early 1950s, this poster was part of Austria’s post-war tourism campaign to promote winter sports and Alpine travel. The French text, “Plaisirs d’hiver en Autriche” (Winter Pleasures in Austria), reflects the country’s appeal to international visitors, particularly from France and other Western European nations. By the mid-20th century, Austria had become a premier destination for skiing and winter recreation, attracting tourists to resorts in Tyrol, Salzburg, and Styria. The imagery of happy children in folk clothing reinforces a nostalgic and wholesome vision of Austrian culture.

Fritz Grünbock was an Austrian graphic designer known for his dynamic and expressive travel posters. His work often featured bright, engaging compositions that conveyed movement and emotion.