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.
Bugatti Masterpieces of 1920s and 1930s. By Roberto Bigano
Ikonographia is proud to showcase a gallery of the most iconic vintage Bugatti masterpieces, highlighted by the splendid images of Roberto Bigano. The models range from the legendary Type 13 and Type 35 racing models to the stylish Type 57 Atalante and Atlantic designed by Jean Bugatti.
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.
Divina Bugatti. A Timeless Legend Celebrated in a Timeless Book
Divina Bugatti. The legendary Brand celebrated in a Timeless Book, created as a joint effort between Romano Artioli, owner of Bugatti Automobili, and Franco Maria Ricci—immersing readers in the making of the book, the characters, and a selection of the most breathtaking pictures.
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,” 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
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
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.