About the Artist
Joseph Binder was an Austrian-born graphic designer who became a defining voice of mid-century poster art after establishing his career in the United States. Celebrated for bold simplification and confident color design, he helped shape the modern language of advertising with images that read instantly from a distance.
Binder’s work bridges European modernism and American commercial illustration, making his prints highly collectible as both decorative art and design history. If you enjoy this approach, explore more posters by famous artists selected for their lasting visual impact.
The Artwork
Jantzen 2 was created in 1952 as a promotional piece during a time when winter sports embodied postwar optimism and the allure of travel. Designed for the renowned swimwear and sportswear brand, the poster reflects how skiing was marketed as a fashionable and aspirational leisure activity, not just a sport. Binder’s work captures the spirit of a new era, when brands used striking visuals to evoke the excitement and freedom of alpine resorts.
This artwork is a testament to the power of graphic design in shaping cultural ideals, illustrating how commercial art could transform everyday activities into symbols of modern lifestyle and adventure.
Style & Characteristics
The poster features two stylized skiers, their forms defined by clean lines and bold, geometric shapes that convey motion and confidence. Strong diagonal elements emphasize the downhill energy, while the figures are rendered in a way that feels both sculptural and instantly recognizable.
The color palette is crisp and vibrant, dominated by blue, white, and red, with subtle warm accents that energize the scene. Smooth, flat areas of color and gentle tonal transitions give the print a polished, mid-century look, making it a classic example of vintage advertising art with graphic clarity. For more works in this style, browse our vintage advertising posters or discover other pieces in the blue wall art collection.
In Interior Design
This vintage skiing poster brings instant structure to a gallery wall in a living room, entryway, or home office, especially where you want a note of sporty sophistication. It pairs naturally with mid-century modern, Scandinavian, or minimalist interiors, where bold shapes and clear color blocks feel at home.
Try it on white or pale-grey walls with blue textiles, chrome details, or a single red accent for cohesion. It also complements curated sets of vintage advertising posters and works beautifully alongside other blue wall art for a clean, winter-bright scheme.
