Stories

Ikonographia Archive provides a unique lens into American and international popular culture, showcasing the work of illustrators, photographers, and designers, focusing on 20th-century advertisements. A Story is the core module of Ikonographia. It’s a curated collection of images on a given topic, surrounded by all available contexts, including historical background and text transcripts.

Celebrating the Art Deco Centenary. 1925-2025

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 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

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.

Social Events in 1920s High Society. By Fish

Social Events in 1920s High Society. By Fish

A second compilation of pages from Vanity Fair and the book “High Society” on “Social Events in 1920s High Society,” illustrated by Anne Fish.
Any double-page plate focuses on a specific topic providing a unique, rich lens into American and international high society’s lifestyles of the 1910s and 1920s. Rigorously in black and white, these inimitable sketches are completed with entertaining captions.

Gluyas Williams  Cartoons from “Ourselves as Others See Us.” 1920s

Gluyas Williams Cartoons from “Ourselves as Others See Us.” 1920s

Gluyas Williams Cartoons from “Ourselves as Others See Us.” This story features the entire run of double-page illustrations published in Cosmopolitan in 1928. This was the golden age of the magazine’s illustration, featuring splendid plates from artists such as Gluyas Williams, Charles Dana Gibson, and  Anne Harriet Fish in the same issues.

Portfolio Magazine by Brodovitch as never seen before. 1950

Portfolio Magazine by Brodovitch as never seen before. 1950

“Portfolio,” conceived by Frank Zachary and designed by Alexey Brodovitch, at the time, art director of the iconic Harper’s Bazaar magazine, was published in the Winter of 1950.
It was decided that Portfolio would run without ads, freeing up more space for the overall design. However, the enormous costs of the publication and lack of advertising revenue soon killed the magazine. Only three numbers were issued; the last was in the Spring of 1951.

Flirting, Engagement, Weddings & Divorce in 1920s High Society. By Fish

Flirting, Engagement, Weddings & Divorce in 1920s High Society. By Fish

A first compilation of pages from Vanity Fair and the book “High Society” on Flirting, Engagement, Weddings & Divorce, illustrated by Anne Fish.
Any double-page plate focuses on a specific topic providing a unique, rich lens into American and international high society’s lifestyles of the 1910s and 1920s. Rigorously in black and white, these inimitable sketches are completed with entertaining captions.

Flair Magazine by Fleur Cowles as never seen before. 1950

Flair Magazine by Fleur Cowles as never seen before. 1950

Conceived and produced by visionary editor Fleur Cowles, Flair Magazine existed for only one year and twelve issues. Nevertheless, Flair launched a new aesthetic paradigm for mass-produced lifestyle magazines. The magazine combined art, fashion, travel, and reportage to take the most out of its Editor’s formidable influence in promoting European and American talent.
The double spreads pages are reproduced from the originals.

Cadillac’s World War II Iconic Advertisements

Cadillac’s World War II Iconic Advertisements

On January 16, 1942, 39 days after Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt, with an executive order, created the War Production Board (WPB) to convert peacetime industrial production to meet the needs of the war.
Only 55 days after automobile production ended, Cadillac delivered the first tank. Just 17 days later, the second was shipped. Production was beginning to roll and soon to become a flood.

US Bald Eagle Emblem in 1930s Art Deco Architecture

US Bald Eagle Emblem in 1930s Art Deco Architecture

An impressive selection of clean and essential pictures on the U.S. Symbol in US Courthouses and public buildings built from 1929 to 1939. All pictures, by Carol M. Highsmith are taken with a large-format view camera and the most recent with the finest professional digital equipment. Fine-Art Prints available for purchase.

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