Johnson's Sun Tan Oil
Maker
Johnson & Johnson
(American, founded 1886)
Datec 1950
Object number00006259
NamePoster
MediumColour lithograph on paper
DimensionsOverall: 766 x 1790 x 335 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA poster advertising 'Johnson's Sun Tan Oil - For the quickest richest safest tan'.
This glamorous image of a couple sunbathing on a beach was used to market Johnson & Johnson's Sun Tan Oil. The beach symbolised health and happiness to a receptive public audience. Scenes like this were commonly featured on posters during the 1950s.HistoryThroughout the 20th century, posters were used as a relatively inexpensive, eye catching and easily distributed way of marketing. Beach scenes were a popular advertising theme in Australia during the 1950s.
The sea air, bathing and beach recreation were associated with health and well being, and people were increasingly encouraged to spend time outdoors and at the beach. This poster reflects the transformation of the tanned body into a fashionable and healthy icon.
The American company Johnson & Johnson, responsible for the first commercial mass-produced sterile surgical dressings, sutures and plasters, was founded in 1886.SignificanceThis poster is an example of the promotion of sunbathing and tanned skin as a health and fashion phenomenon. Promoting tanning as a healthy activity became popular during the 1930s and this poster highlights the continuation of that trend into the 1950s.
