Ikonographia. Stories through images.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Ikonographia tells stories through the power of images, graphics, and beyond including photographs, advertisements, prints, and vintage memorabilia in curated collections surrounded by all available context, including historical background and transcripts. Read the stories.
Ikonographia provides a unique lens into American and international popular culture showcasing the work from the greatest or less known illustrators, photographers, designers, with a focus on 20th-century advertisement.
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. Most images, along with memorabilia, are available for purchase in high-resolution.
Advertisement, Illustration
Popular
Abdulla Cigarettes 1921. Mélisande at Montecarlo, by Anne Fish
The full 1921 Abdulla ad campaign in the French magazine "La Vie Parisienne." The star is Mélisande, a wealthy, young, elegant, and beautiful Parisian who goes to Monte Carlo to try her luck at the casino. Here she meets an elegant Englishman who woos her and with whom she gets engaged and finally marries three days before New Year's Eve; her life unfolds between suitors, losses, and wins at the table and a lifestyle of unbridled luxury.
Bburago
Popular
Ten years with Bburago die cast models
From 1991 to 2000, Roberto Bigano worked as a photographer for Bburago, Die-cast Models. In this post and subsequent ones, he tells the story of this fascinating work relationship. We will see the original photographs, prints, and many exclusive vintage materials, some of which can be purchased in our store.
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Illustration
Latest
American Streamlined Trains. Striking Ads of the 1940s
From the mid-thirties, American railroads developed deluxe passenger trains, the streamliners. Some became legendary and profoundly influenced popular culture by focusing on concepts such as power, speed, technological progress, comfort, and luxury service.
Bugatti Automobili
Top Rated
The Great Adventure of Bugatti Automobili 1990s
Ikonographia celebrates Bugatti Automobili’s myth with three posts using the splendid images of Roberto Bigano, Bugatti’s photographer in the 1990s. Romano Artioli , the founder of Bugatti and Gianpaolo Benedini, the Architect who built the facility tell us all the story.
Photography
Latest
Glamorous and provocative vintage Spanish mannequins. 1980-1997
This is the third episode part of “Plastic Girls,” a forty-year project by the Italian photographer Roberto Bigano documenting mannequins. All the pictures were taken in Spain from 1980 and 1997, with 35mm cameras.
- Advertisement
- Bburago
- Illustration
- Photography
- All
American Streamlined Trains. Striking Ads of the 1940s
From the mid-thirties, American railroads developed deluxe passenger trains, the streamliners. Some became legendary and profoundly influenced popular culture by focusing on concepts such as power, speed, technological progress, comfort, and luxury service.
Ten Iconic Bburago Photographs by Roberto Bigano
For this third post of the Bburago series, I selected ten iconic photographs that become very popular among the boys who grew up with “milk and Bburago,”. For any image, we show you the original slide on large format film, some times uncropped and the published version.
American Streamlined Trains. Striking Ads of the 1940s
From the mid-thirties, American railroads developed deluxe passenger trains, the streamliners. Some became legendary and profoundly influenced popular culture by focusing on concepts such as power, speed, technological progress, comfort, and luxury service.
Glamorous and provocative vintage Spanish mannequins. 1980-1997
This is the third episode part of “Plastic Girls,” a forty-year project by the Italian photographer Roberto Bigano documenting mannequins. All the pictures were taken in Spain from 1980 and 1997, with 35mm cameras.
Glamorous and provocative vintage Spanish mannequins. 1980-1997
This is the third episode part of “Plastic Girls,” a forty-year project by the Italian photographer Roberto Bigano documenting mannequins. All the pictures were taken in Spain from 1980 and 1997, with 35mm cameras.
Glamorous and provocative vintage Spanish mannequins. 1980-1997
This is the third episode part of “Plastic Girls,” a forty-year project by the Italian photographer Roberto Bigano documenting mannequins. All the pictures were taken in Spain from 1980 and 1997, with 35mm cameras.
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Bugatti EB110, First Model, Prototype, EB110 Supersport, EB112
This third episode about Bugatti Automobili showcases the various models of EB 110 and EB 112. A collection of striking pictures, many of which unpublished, including the very first Epowood model with the covered wheels.
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EB110GT. The Making of a Dream Car at Bugatti Automobili
Once the factory was made, the car had to be built. Follow us in this second episode on Bugatti Automobili, a behind the scene journey in the various design phases that led to the new Gran Turismo’s birth. See all the men and women who built the EB110.
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