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The Barcelona lithographic poster in colours by Martinez Bigorda is a rare and visually evocative example of mid-twentieth-century Spanish travel and promotional graphic art — a large-format colour lithograph printed by the celebrated Barcelona printing house I.G. Seix y Barral Hnos., backed on linen, and preserved in condition B. Produced to celebrate and promote the city of Barcelona — one of the most visually spectacular, architecturally rich, and culturally vibrant cities in Europe — this poster represents a compelling document of the golden age of travel poster design, when the graphic arts were pressed into the service of tourism and civic pride with an ambition, craftsmanship, and visual intelligence that have ensured the enduring collectibility of the finest examples.
Barcelona, as a subject for graphic art, occupies an entirely singular position within the history of the travel poster. The city's extraordinary architectural heritage — from the Gothic Quarter and the Barceloneta to the moderniste masterworks of Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch — provided graphic artists of the mid-twentieth century with a visual environment of unparalleled richness, drama, and iconographic power. Martinez Bigorda, working within the rich tradition of Catalan and Spanish graphic design, brings to the Barcelona poster a visual sensibility entirely attuned to the city's character — capturing its light, its energy, its architectural grandeur, and its distinctly Mediterranean identity with a graphic economy and chromatic boldness characteristic of the finest travel poster design of the period.
Printed by I.G. Seix y Barral Hnos. — one of the most prestigious and historically significant printing and publishing houses in Barcelona, with a legacy stretching back to the nineteenth century and a reputation for print production of exceptional quality and technical sophistication — the Barcelona poster achieves a level of chromatic richness, graphic precision, and material presence entirely consistent with the highest standards of Spanish lithographic production of the period. The linen backing — a standard conservation practice for vintage posters of this age and scale — ensures the long-term structural integrity of the paper support and facilitates both display and handling, while the condition B rating confirms the very good state of preservation of this impression, with only minor age-related characteristics entirely consistent with a large-format lithograph of this period and origin.
The work is in condition B — very good. Full condition report available upon request.
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Who is Martinez Bigorda? Martinez Bigorda is the graphic artist responsible for the design of this Barcelona lithographic poster — a work produced within the rich tradition of Catalan and Spanish graphic design during the golden age of travel poster production. The poster was printed by I.G. Seix y Barral Hnos. — one of the most prestigious printing and publishing houses in Barcelona.
Who printed the poster? The poster was printed by I.G. Seix y Barral Hnos. — one of the most prestigious and historically significant printing and publishing houses in Barcelona, with a legacy stretching back to the nineteenth century and a long-established reputation for print production of exceptional quality and technical sophistication.
What printing technique was used? The poster is a lithograph in colours — a technically demanding printing process that allows for the reproduction of bold, chromatically rich compositions with exceptional fidelity and surface quality, representing the standard of the highest-quality commercial poster production of the mid-twentieth century.
What does condition B mean? Condition B denotes very good condition — indicating that the impression is in a strong state of preservation with only minor age-related characteristics entirely consistent with a large-format lithograph of this period and origin.
What does backed on linen mean? Linen backing is a standard and widely accepted conservation practice for vintage posters, in which the poster is mounted onto a linen support to ensure its long-term structural integrity, facilitate display and handling, and protect the paper from further deterioration. Linen-backed posters are the standard presentation format for vintage travel posters in major collections and at specialist auction houses worldwide.
What are the dimensions of the piece? 98 × 68 cm (38 1/2 × 27 in)
Is the work framed? No. The poster is presented unframed.
What makes this poster a compelling acquisition? The Barcelona poster by Martinez Bigorda represents a rare convergence of civic subject matter of enduring appeal, exceptional print quality from one of Barcelona's most prestigious printing houses, and a state of preservation — condition B, backed on linen — that makes this a fully displayable and documented acquisition for serious collectors of vintage travel and promotional graphic art.
Is this artwork a good investment? Vintage travel posters depicting major European cities — particularly those printed by prestigious regional printing houses in good condition — are among the most consistently sought-after works in the vintage poster market. Barcelona, as one of the most visually iconic and internationally recognized cities in Europe, represents a subject of enduring and broad collector appeal. This example, in condition B and backed on linen, represents a compelling acquisition opportunity within this category.
Is worldwide shipping available? Absolutely. We offer secure worldwide shipping from France with professional packaging, tracking, and insurance
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