The 1950s Archive

Browse our collection of ads, illustrations, and photographs published in the 1950s.
See also the Flair Magazine and Portfolio Magazine dedicated pages.

Hi-res and high-quality digital files professionally restored. Ready for use up to large-sized print.


Browse all “1950s” Stories

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.

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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.

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