{"product_id":"whiskey-and-lager-vintage-drinks-poster-by-j-rau-1871","title":"Whiskey and Lager Vintage Drinks Poster by J. Rau, 1871","description":"\u003cp\u003eJ. Rau’s \u003cem\u003eWhiskey and lager\u003c\/em\u003e, created in 1871, turns a comparison between two popular drinks into a compact piece of visual theatre. At the centre, a crown-wearing figure in richly coloured regalia raises a foaming mug towards a plainly dressed, rustic companion, whose guarded expression complicates the apparent offer. Their encounter unfolds within an elaborate golden border, while a green pastoral landscape and tiny scenes of merriment extend behind them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster belongs to a late nineteenth-century visual culture in which printed advertising increasingly brought commerce, illustration and entertainment together. Rather than relying on lettering alone, Rau gives the beverages human character and social rank: lager appears in regal guise, while whiskey is associated with a rougher, more homespun figure. The conceit makes the comparison instantly legible, but also leaves room for humour. Is this a cordial exchange, a contest of tastes, or a piece of playful persuasion? The sceptical glance between the protagonists keeps the answer open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA closer look\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe two figures dominate the foreground, their contrasting costumes establishing the joke before the title is even read. The kingly character’s crown, colourful cape and bright gold details catch the eye first. His raised arm creates an emphatic diagonal, presenting the mug almost like a ceremonial object. Opposite him, the rustic figure is rendered in coarser-looking brown clothing; his posture is less expansive, and his doubtful expression resists the other man’s theatrical confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBehind this exchange, the landscape opens into softer greens and browns. Trees gather towards the lower left, while small groups of revellers enliven the distance. Among them are figures who appear to dance, extending the subject of drink into a broader atmosphere of sociability and celebration. These diminutive background scenes also deepen the composition: the protagonists feel close and imposing, whereas the festivities recede into a gentler, more loosely described world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe surrounding ornament is more than a passive frame. Gold floral and curvilinear motifs press in from the edges, giving the horizontal design the richness of a decorative label or commercial display. Warm browns and reds in the costumes stand against cooler touches of blue and the subdued green landscape. Along the lower centre, the bold wording “WHISKEY AND LAGER.” anchors the pictorial comedy, while the line “For sale by J. Marquardt, 177 Essex Str, New York” makes the work’s commercial purpose explicit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContext and significance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRau, identified as an American artist active across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, worked at a moment when illustration and print design were becoming increasingly present in everyday consumer life. Images made goods memorable by attaching them to characters, narratives and recognisable social types. Here, the personification of drink transforms an ordinary choice into a meeting between courtly display and rustic independence. The result is not simply an advertisement for beverages, but an example of how commercial imagery borrowed the devices of caricature, costume drama and popular humour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts appeal lies in this fusion of directness and detail. From a distance, the crowned figure, raised mug and bold title communicate the subject immediately; closer inspection reveals the textured clothing, intricate crown, floral border and miniature festivities beyond. \u003cem\u003eWhiskey and lager\u003c\/em\u003e preserves the lively inventiveness with which nineteenth-century advertising sought to catch the eye—and then reward a second look.\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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/pages\/custom-framing\"\u003especialist framing\u003c\/a\u003e are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/es\/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":67633411293575,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67633411326343,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67633411359111,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67633411391879,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67633411424647,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed 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