{"product_id":"balsam-vintage-wine-poster-1918","title":"Balsam Vintage Wine Poster, 1918","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBalsam (1918)\u003c\/em\u003e is an anonymous beverage poster built around an immediately legible pairing: a smiling young woman and the dark glass bottle she presents. Her face, wavy brown hair and pale clothing emerge from a yellow circular frame, while the bottle occupies the lower centre of the composition. Behind them, an intense green field gives the design its distinctive force. Across the upper section, the name “BALSAM” appears in large, shadowed lettering, establishing the product before the eye reaches the figure or label.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCreated during the final year of the First World War, the poster belongs to a period in which illustrated commercial graphics were becoming an increasingly familiar part of everyday visual culture. Advertisements needed to communicate rapidly, often from a distance, and this design answers that demand through flat colour, clear outlines and a tightly controlled hierarchy. The word “balsam”, commonly associated with soothing or restorative substances, lends the beverage a suggestive name without the poster requiring an elaborate explanation. Instead, the welcoming figure, polished bottle and bright palette carry the message.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA closer look\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is nearly symmetrical, though subtle shifts prevent it from feeling rigid. The woman turns slightly towards the viewer, her head inclined beside the bottle rather than placed directly above it. Her smile and direct presentation of the product create a staged, personable encounter. The bottle itself rises through the lower centre like a dark vertical axis, its rich brown surface standing out against the light tones of her skin and clothing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMuch of the poster’s effectiveness comes from the circular device surrounding the figure. A yellow band, crisply defined by a fine dark outline, separates her from the green ground and operates almost like a spotlight. It also echoes the rounded forms of her face, coiffed hair and shoulders. The resulting arrangement is compact and emblematic: figure and product are gathered into a single graphic unit that can be understood at a glance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCloser inspection reveals how carefully texture is suggested within an otherwise simplified design. Fine, curving marks articulate the woman’s hair, contrasting with the smoother modelling of her face. Small highlights on the bottle imply reflective glass, while shadows around the label and in the upper lettering lend shallow relief to the predominantly flat surface. Warm peach, yellow and brown are held against the cooler green background, creating a strong colour contrast without sacrificing visual coherence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContext and significance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEarly twentieth-century advertising often balanced illustration with increasingly assertive typography, and \u003cem\u003eBalsam\u003c\/em\u003e demonstrates that transition especially clearly. The product name is not treated as a caption added after the fact: its scale, spacing and shadow effect make it an active part of the composition. The human figure provides charm and approachability, while the lettering and centrally displayed bottle ensure commercial clarity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough its designer is unrecorded, the poster retains the period’s confidence in bold, economical visual communication. Its interest lies not only in the beverage it promotes, but in the way colour, portraiture and lettering have been compressed into a persuasive decorative statement. The saturated green ground and golden circular frame remain particularly memorable, giving this 1918 advertisement a graphic directness that still reads with remarkable immediacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing the right size and finish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArtwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop for advice\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee examples of personalised artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/sepia-aged-maps\"\u003eSee examples of our Aged artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFramed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSelected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/custom-framing\"\u003especialist framing\u003c\/a\u003e are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact our workshop\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67633453760903,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67633453793671,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67633453826439,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67633453859207,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67633453891975,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed 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