A rare and remarkable piece of Chicago history, this large-format poster promoted the Field Museum's exhibitions on the ancient East, commissioned by the Chicago Rapid Transit to drive ridership to one of the city's greatest cultural institutions. Arthur D. Johnson's commanding illustration, a towering classical goddess figure rendered in cream and gold against a smoldering red ground, the neoclassical Field Museum facade at her feet, is bold, mysterious, and genuinely arresting.
Chicago transit posters from this era are exceptionally scarce. Unlike national airline or ocean liner campaigns, these were produced in small quantities for local distribution, and very few have survived in collectible condition. This is the kind of poster that appears once and doesn't come back.
A powerhouse piece for collectors of Chicago history, transit poster art, and American Art Nouveau/Deco graphics, as well as a stunning display piece for anyone with a connection to the city or the museum. Institutions, interior designers, and serious collectors take note.