Cruise by Orient Line
Artist
John Rowland Barker
(British, 1911 - 1959)
Maker
Orient Line
(1878 - 1966)
Printer
Baynard Press
Date1935-1939
Object number00006901
NamePoster
MediumColour lithograph on paper
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis travel poster promoting first class on board the Orient Line cruisers ORCADES, ORION and ORFORD, was designed by the British artist Kraber (John Roland Barker) in the 1930s. The design reflects the Modernist style used during this period by the Orient Line in both its ship interiors and publicity material.HistoryDuring the 1930s the Orient Line embraced a Modernist style both in the interior design of its ships and in the company's publicity material. Innovative artists like Kraber, famous for his photo-montage designs, were commissioned to create striking posters that reflected this new aesthetic.
The Orient Line introduced cruising, the idea of sea travel purely for pleasure, in the 1880s. They began with cruises to the Mediterranean and to Norway in 1889, and to the West Indies in 1893, using ships no longer needed for full-time service on the England to Australia mail route. By the late 1930s, passengers could select from a variety of exotic itineraries throughout the world. The 1930s were boom years for cruising and in 1933 alone the Orient Line operated 18 cruises, mainly sailing to Scandinavia, the Baltic and the Mediterranean. During this period the tourist class was introduced.
The ORION departed on its maiden voyage in 1935. The ORCADES was launched in 1937 and sported many of the ORION's state-of-the art features including the single funnel and the line's new signature corn-coloured hull. In the late 1930s the ORCADES often promoted first class cruises, which were usually short voyages around the Mediterranean. The ORFORD reduced its first class capacity and converted its third class accommodation to the new tourist class in 1935.
SignificanceThe poster is representative of designs produced by Kraber in the 1930s. It is also an important document recording one of the ways in which travel was marketed to both national and international audiences.
