Description
Piedmont “Take Off and Paint the Town” poster
A bold, serigraph Piedmont Airlines poster presenting a vertical sequence of American city markers beneath the directive “Take Off and Paint the Town.”
Overview
Produced in the 1960s, this Piedmont “Take Off and Paint the Town” poster translates a route network into a graphic totem of destinations. Rather than mapping geography, it stacks symbolic forms—each tied to a city served by the airline—into a single, upright composition. The approach reflects mid-century advertising’s interest in reduction and immediacy, where recognition is achieved through emblem rather than panorama.
Visual Composition
Set against a saturated blue ground, the composition arranges a series of vertical elements, each distinct in color and form yet aligned along a shared baseline. From left to right, Chicago is indicated through a filmstrip motif; Memphis appears as a dark, tower-like structure; New York is reduced to the raised arm and torch of the Statue of Liberty in green with a vivid red flame; Washington, D.C. is rendered as a stark white obelisk; Atlanta is suggested by a traditional streetlamp; Louisville by a horse-topped weather vane; and Nashville by a bright red clarinet. Above, a simplified aircraft and the word “Piedmont” anchor the sequence, while the slogan ties the imagery to action. The flat, screen-printed color fields and crisp edges emphasize clarity and rhythm over depth.
Context & Provenance
Piedmont Airlines, active from 1948 to 1989, developed a recognizable visual identity through concise, graphic advertising. This poster aligns with broader 1960s design tendencies—serial imagery, saturated color, and modular composition—used to communicate multi-city networks in a single glance. The serigraph printing method reinforces the intensity and uniformity of the palette.
Condition
Archivally linen-backed and presented in very good condition. Colors remain strong and even, with no visually disruptive flaws.
Specifications
Original serigraph poster
Date: circa 1960s
Airline: Piedmont Airlines
Slogan: “Take Off and Paint the Town”
Backing: Linen-backed
Authenticity
Original period serigraph, not a reproduction.
Framing
A simple frame with a clean mount will support the poster’s vertical emphasis and preserve the integrity of the color fields; glazing with UV protection is recommended to maintain pigment stability.
Purchase & Shipping
Ships flat, carefully packed, and ready for framing.
Collector Notes
The poster’s strength lies in its sequential logic—each city distilled into a single, legible sign and arranged as a continuous visual cadence. It functions almost as a typographic column of icons, where variation in silhouette and hue substitutes for narrative. Within airline graphics of the period, it is a clear example of network identity expressed through modular design rather than scenic depiction.
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