Ikonographia Visual Archives


Ikonographia Visual Archives showcases illustration, photography, and design, with a focus on 20th-century advertisement. The Archives offer a unique perspective on American and international visual culture.
The site is organized into Stories, Products Pages, and Archive Pages.

Ikonographia Visual Archives is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in exploring history and culture through visuals. We encourage you to watch the video to get a taste of just how diverse and rich this archive is and to see the kinds of insights you can find in this living, growing resource.

Ikonographia Stories


A Story is the core module of this site. It’s a curated collection of images across the ages, surrounded by all available contexts, including historical background and text transcripts.Some stories are exclusive to the web, and often, the most qualitative and complete available. We also use the original text that you usually don’t find.
Stories’ contents range from Vintage Advertisements, Illustrations, Photography, and Design.

Some stories are work-in-progress as we add more or more qualitative content. For many topics, there are more episodes. So, get in touch.
Browse all the Stories.

The most intriguing British Dunlop ads of the thirties.

Explore an extensive collection of Dunlop’s most intriguing campaigns from 1933 to 1938, featuring beautiful illustrations created by talented artists with different styles and perspectives. The illustrations are carefully crafted to depict a variety of social situations.
Most of these images are exclusive and not available online.
The hi-res files are digitally restored, preserving the detail and feel of the originals.

The Art Deco Glass Objects by Serge Roche, 1930s

This story presents an overview of the Art Deco glasswork of French artist Serge Roche during the 1930s, highlighting his innovative techniques like “Oxidations” and “Eglomisation” in creating mirrors and glass objects.
We showcase several of Roche’s notable creations, including unique mirrored furniture and a grand mirror fireplace, often commissioned by elite clientele.

Portfolio Magazine by Brodovitch Winter 1950 Issue

Selected Contents from Portfolio N.2. Summer 1950. Each issue of “Portfolio” was filled with remarkable content, and we are dedicating a story to each issue. This is a focus on Issue No. 2, published in Summer 1950.
The introduction texts and the captions are taken from the original magazine.

Art Deco Masterpieces. The Rene Chambellan Grilles at Chanin Building NYC

This story is the second installment in a series celebrating the 2025 centenary of Art Deco, focusing on the renowned master René Paul Chambellan. We will highlight the remarkable radiator grilles in the vestibules of the Chanin Building.
These grilles feature a geometric, abstract design symbolizing human thought and emotion, showcasing exceptional Art Deco craftsmanship in New York City.

The Eve Book by Anne Harriet Fish 1916

The “Eve Book,” also known as “The First Book of Eve,” is a historical gem published in 1916 by Brentano in the US and the Tatler in the UK. Introducing the new star illustrator, Anne Fish, it is a curated collection of drawings published on the Tatler from 1914 to 1916 in the column “The Letters of Eve,” offering a unique glimpse into the dark days of World War I.

The Nonexistent Knight – The Armour Collection of Ferdinand Von Hapsburg

Discover the Armor collection of Maximilian II of Hapsburg.
Starting in 1577, the Tyrolese Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg, who later became Holy Roman Emperor, amassed a diverse collection of art and wonders at his Ambras Castle, near Innsbruck, which astounded his contemporaries. His primary focus was on the armory, where he collected the armor owned by all the famous personalities of both his own era and previous centuries—from princes to military commanders.

Celebrating the Art Deco Centenary. 1925-2025

The Coca-Cola History Trough Ads. A fascinating journey starting in 1896, when nine drinks a day were sold, marking the humble beginnings of a global phenomenon.
This first part chronicles the period 1896-1919, including the story of the original Coca and Cola extract recipe, the Trademark registration, the first ads, the Coca-Cola Branding Journey, and Imitation Fighting.
The whole story will spam into the 1960s.

The Coca-Cola History Through Ads. 1 – 1886-1919

The Coca-Cola History Trough Ads. A fascinating journey starting in 1896, when nine drinks a day were sold, marking the humble beginnings of a global phenomenon.
This first part chronicles the period 1896-1919, including the story of the original Coca and Cola extract recipe, the Trademark registration, the first ads, the Coca-Cola Branding Journey, and Imitation Fighting.
The whole story will spam into the 1960s.

The Bugatti Catalogs Functional Design. 1920s and 1930s

Ettore and Jean Bugatti, the creative minds behind Bugatti’s iconic designs, also oversaw the creation of Bugatti’s literature with an obsessive attention to detail. Their influence can be seen in every catalog, advertisement, poster, and factory technical drawing.
Bugatti’s literature had a home-made taste. The Company didn’t have the budgets of most car makers, but its brochures were original and elegant—a class from itself.

Augustus Jansson’s Ink Beasts Parade for Queen City Ink 1905

Augustus Jansson, a Swedish-American illustrator and designer, established a reputation through his original and superior work when he began a seven-year working period for Queen City Printing Ink.

Images Quality


With images being at the heart of Ikonographia, we care deeply about their quality. Images are either original photos, reproductions from original prints, or sophisticated restorations of existing digital files. Images are available for purchase as Hi-res Files or Fine-Art Prints.

Success. Gilded Bronze Radiator Grill in the vestibule of the Chanin Building. By Rene Paul Chambellan 1929
Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon (1929) The personal car of Ettore Bugatti. Courtesy: Musée National de l'Automobile, Mulhouse. Photo by Roberto Bigano. Courtesy: Courtesy: Musée National de l’Automobile Mulhouse. Buy this image at Ikonographia.com store

Photography


Ikonographia features the work of contemporary masters such as Carol M. Highsmith on 1930s Art Deco Architecture or Roberto Bigano.
We will also add Ansel Adam’s remarkable work on the Manzanar War Relocation Center and the famous “British Algae” Cyanotype Impressions by Anna Atkins, digitally restored.

For example, discover the impressive work of Roberto Bigano about Mannequins, Bugatti, and Bburago.
Browse stock photographs or buy fine-art prints.

Illustration


Illustration-based stories are a core part of Ikonographia. We feature the work of masters but also almost unknown artists, American, British, French, Italian, and German.
Of course, we publish works out of copyright unless some of which we hold the copyright. Please look at the “Copyright Advice” tab on the pages.
Find all contents on the “Illustration Archive Page.”

For example, discover the work of Anne Fish, a British cartoonist, and illustrator. She is best known as “Fish,” her maiden name, and how she signed her works.

Fish sketch detail from "High Society"
Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon (1929)

Magazines


We will add a new exclusive section featuring iconic magazine double pages that have fallen into the Public Domain as Flair, Brodovitch’s Portfolio, Judge, and more.
Finding the original magazines, reproducing and fitting the double spreads, and painstakingly digitally restoring them was very difficult, but the results were worth it. As usual, we extracted the text and made them available in the file’s metadata. You hardly find something similar on the internet.

The subjects are available for purchase as hi-res digital files or as fine-art prints.

Advertisement


It all started from a passion for vintage advertisements. The striking illustrations, the captivating messages, and the history seeping through the pages of yellowed magazines were always fascinating. The idea of Ikonographia was born and became a curated collection of stories through ads across the ages. We focus on American and International Advertisements from the 1910s to the 1960s.

To understand how we combine images and text and include them in its historical and social contest, look at this story about “Streamlined Trains”.

Browse the Advertisement Archive Page.

The Campbell Tomato - THE FAMOUS FLAVOR WRAPPED IN RED - Double Page Ad - Life, September 20, 1954, pages 38,39. Buy the hi-res file oa a fine art print in ikonographia.com shop. https://www.ikonographia.com/archive/food-vintage-ads-archive/

Posters


Since the earliest times, posters have been used for advertising and announcements. The invention of chromolithography allowed for mass editions of posters illustrated in vibrant colors to be printed. By the 1890s, the technique had spread throughout France and Europe.

In a century, Posters became a vital art form, attracting painters such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha to theatrical and commercial designers. They have ranged in styles from Art Nouveau, Symbolism, Cubism, and Art Deco to the more formal Bauhaus and the crazy hippie posters of the 1960s. Source.

We started publishing a Story on Bugatti Poster. We’ll soon post an unbelievable collection of British 1920s and 1930s posters by “London Underground.”

Martin-Peikert-Chemin-de-fer-suisse-1946
Bugatti EB 112. A detail of the striking design by Giorgietto Giugiaro with the catching radiator grill. Photo Roberto Bigano. Buy this image in the ikonographia.com store.

Shop


Ikonographia’s Shop has three main sections:
1. High-quality digital files from vintage prints
2. Royalty-free Photo Stock Archive
3. Bburago Memorabilia.
Dedicated shop pages are also available in the sidebar menu.

Any product page contains technical and historical info on the subject and a “Right Advisory” Tab informing you if that image is copyrighted or not. You may also navigate all the products on the same topics using the “Previous” and “Next” buttons.

With images being at the heart of Ikonographia, we care deeply about their quality. Images are either original photos, reproductions from original prints, or sophisticated restorations of existing digital files. Images are available for purchase as Hi-res Files or Fine-Art Prints.

 There is also a new, fast-growing Fine-Art Prints Shop.

Ikonographia Stories


A Story is the core module of this site. It’s a curated collection of images across the ages, surrounded by all available contexts, including historical background and text transcripts.

Some stories are exclusive to the web, and often, the most qualitative and complete available. We also use the original text that you usually don’t find.
Stories’ contents range from Vintage Advertisements, Illustrations, Photography, and Design.

Some stories are work-in-progress as we add more or more qualitative content. For many topics, there are more episodes. So, get in touch.
Browse all the Stories.

Shop window in Regent St, London, UK | September 1980

Illustration


Illustration-based stories are a core part of Ikonographia. We feature the work of masters but also almost unknown artists, American, British, French, Italian, and German.
Of course, we publish works out of copyright unless some of which we hold the copyright. Please look at the “Copyright Advice” tab on the pages.
Find all contents on the “Illustration Archive Page.”

For example, discover the work of Anne Fish, a British cartoonist, and illustrator. She is best known as “Fish,” her maiden name, and how she signed her works.

Fish sketch detail from "High Society"

Photography


Ikonographia features the work of contemporary masters such as Carol M. Highsmith on 1930s Art Deco Architecture or Roberto Bigano.
We will also add Ansel Adam’s remarkable work on the Manzanar War Relocation Center and the famous “British Algae” Cyanotype Impressions by Anna Atkins, digitally restored.

For example, discover the impressive work of Roberto Bigano about Mannequins, Bugatti, and Bburago.
Browse stock photographs or buy fine-art prints.

Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon (1929) The personal car of Ettore Bugatti. Courtesy: Musée National de l'Automobile, Mulhouse. Photo by Roberto Bigano. Courtesy: Courtesy: Musée National de l’Automobile Mulhouse. Buy this image at Ikonographia.com store

Advertisement


It all started from a passion for vintage advertisements. The striking illustrations, the captivating messages, and the history seeping through the pages of yellowed magazines were always fascinating. The idea of Ikonographia was born and became a curated collection of stories through ads across the ages. We focus on American and International Advertisements from the 1910s to the 1960s.

To understand how we combine images and text and include them in its historical and social contest, look at this story about “Streamlined Trains”.

Browse the Advertisement Archive Page.

The Campbell Tomato - THE FAMOUS FLAVOR WRAPPED IN RED - Double Page Ad - Life, September 20, 1954, pages 38,39. Buy the hi-res file oa a fine art print in ikonographia.com shop. https://www.ikonographia.com/archive/food-vintage-ads-archive/

Magazines


We will add a new exclusive section featuring iconic magazine double pages that have fallen into the Public Domain as Flair, Brodovitch’s Portfolio Judge, and more.
Finding the original magazines, reproducing and fitting the double spreads, and painstakingly digitally restoring them was very difficult, but the results were worth it. As usual, we extracted the text and made them available in the file’s metadata. You hardly find something similar on the internet.

The subjects are available for purchase as hi-res digital files or as fine-art prints.

Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon (1929)

Posters


Since the earliest times, posters have been used for advertising and announcements. The invention of chromolithography allowed for mass editions of posters illustrated in vibrant colors to be printed. By the 1890s, the technique had spread throughout France and Europe.

In a century, Posters became a vital art form, attracting painters such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha to theatrical and commercial designers. They have ranged in styles from Art Nouveau, Symbolism, Cubism, and Art Deco to the more formal Bauhaus and the crazy hippie posters of the 1960s. Source.

We started publishing a Story on Bugatti Poster. We’ll soon post an unbelievable collection of British 1920s and 1930s posters by “London Underground.”

Martin-Peikert-Chemin-de-fer-suisse-1946

Shop


Ikonographia’s Shop has three main sections:
1. High-quality digital files from vintage prints
2. Royalty-free Photo Stock Archive
3. Bburago Memorabilia.
Dedicated shop pages are also available in the sidebar menu.

Any product page contains technical and historical info on the subject and a “Right Advisory” Tab informing you if that image is copyrighted or not. You may also navigate all the products on the same topics using the “Previous” and “Next” buttons.

There is also a new, fast-growing Fine-Art Prints Shop.

Bugatti EB 112. A detail of the striking design by Giorgietto Giugiaro with the catching radiator grill. Photo Roberto Bigano. Buy this image in the ikonographia.com store.

Search & Discover


This site provides different tools to search and navigate through the contents.
On the menu bar, a Search tab searches for ALL contents.
In the Sidebar of the Shop pages a Product Search tab to search through the products only.
The dedicated Archive pages showcase all the Products and Stories.
A work-in-progress “Discover” page is a sort of curated Index, sorted by Subjects, Brands, or Artists.

Search and Discover Achille Beltrame's Places