Ikonographia Archives 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.
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
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.
American 1920s High Society’s lifestyles, as seen by Anne Fish
“High Society” published in December 1920 is a unique book celebrating the work of the star-illustrator Anne Fish. It’s a selection of drawings published on Vanity Fair US from 1914 to 1920. The book provides a unique, rich lens into American and international high society’s lifestyles.
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.
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 A collection of striking pictures, many of which unpublished, including the very first Epowood model with the covered wheels.
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.
United States of Mannequins: a view into shop windows through the 1980s
This is the second part of “Plastic Girls,” a forty-year project by the Italian photographer Roberto Bigano documenting mannequins. All the pictures were taken in the United States from 1982 to 1988, mainly with a 4×5 view camera.
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.
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.
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.
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.
WWII according to Fascist Propaganda in Achille Beltrame’s Drawings
A selection of plates by Achille Beltrame WWII from 1939 to 1942 for “La Domenica del Corriere” a popular Italian magazine. Like all media controlled by strict censorship, the magazine reflected the Fascist Party’s view of the war, like a good vs. bad fight and enhancing Axis victories.
Bread-making as a form of art in Sardinia
In Sardinia, Italy, many still bake bread at home. For special events, like Easter and weddings, these bread sculptures, often showcasing high levels of both imagination and artistic ability, are given as an expression of good wishes. More intricate ones will be finely painted and include clothing like the Easter bread and egg dolls.
“The Girl Of To-Day” Beauty Contest. The New York Times 1913
1913’s American beauties revealed. In late 1913 The New York Times organized a beauty contest, asking readers to send photographs of typical American beauties. They depict an extraordinary snapshot of the concept of beauty, elegance, and aesthetics in photography at the time.
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.
Bburago MMonza Diorama Garages. 1992
The MMonza Diorama Garages was probably the Bburago’s most ambitious project, with an obsessive attention to detail. Produced in only five pieces per subject, towards the end of 1992 they were put on sale in a test area. They were too expensive, and the project was aborted. As a consequence, these items are today scarce.
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.
Evolution of Style through Mannequins. Part 1: 1978-1980
Roberto Bigano have been shooting “Plastic Girls” for over forty years. Mannequins tell a lot about the culture of a country and the evolution of fashion and style. This post is the first of a series and features photographs taken from 1978 to 1980.