Historical Posters. Curated, not compiled.

Vintage posters have their own way of looking at the world. They show travel, medicine, theater, magazines, advertising, architecture, sport, or pleasure not like today’s images, but through the graphic language of their time. That is what makes them interesting. A historic poster is not just a beautiful motif. It is a piece of printed culture, created for a street, a magazine, a stage, a product, or an idea.

At Atelier Orlo you will find curated vintage posters from roughly 1880 to 1960. The selection ranges from Art Deco posters, Art Nouveau posters, and Belle Époque posters to motifs from medicine & pharmacy, travel & cities, film, theater & variety, magazines & covers, and vintage advertising.

Many walls do not need another interchangeable poster. They need a motif with its own tone. Historic poster art is especially suited to this, because it was often designed with great directness. A poster had to attract attention quickly, be clearly readable, and remain memorable.

If you are looking for a calm, graphic effect, it is worth exploring object posters & modernism, Mid-Century Modern, architecture, or science & technology. More lively choices include film, theater & variety, music & dance, Toulouse Lautrec, Jules Chéret, and Leonetto Cappiello.

Sometimes the search does not begin with a style, but with a subject. You may be looking for a historic medical poster, an old travel poster, a magazine cover, a theater motif, or a poster from the world of work and technology.

Medicine & pharmacy features historic pharmaceutical and medical motifs. In travel & cities you will find maps, ships, and city views. Magazines & covers brings together old cover designs. Related themes include industry & work, car, train & ship, bikes & mobility, alcohol & beer, and food & drink.

Style terms are useful when you already have a sense of the atmosphere you are looking for. Art Nouveau and Jugendstil stand for flowing lines, ornament, and figure. Belle Époque brings together early poster art, stage culture, and advertising. Art Deco feels clearer, more geometric, and more controlled.

Eras can also guide the search: 1881 to 1900, 1901 to 1920, 1921 to 1940, and 1941 to 1960. For distinctive styles, you will also find Expressionism, Japonism, and Mid-Century Modern.

A vintage poster can make a good gift when the motif fits the person. Instead of choosing a neutral image, you can search by interests: medicine, books, travel, theater, architecture, music, sport, fashion, or old advertising.

Good starting points include medicine & pharmacy, architecture, object posters & modernism, literature & books, Edward Penfield, sport & winter, and fashion & clothing.

All posters are produced as high-quality prints on matte 200 g/m2 paper. The surface is smooth and not glossy, so lines, colors, and typography appear calm. The posters are delivered without frames, allowing you to choose the material, color, and style yourself.

Answers about formats, frames, paper, production and reproduction, as well as shipping, payment, and returns, can be found in the FAQ.