Rhodes, a travel poster dating from 1935, transforms the Aegean island into a bright, animated map of pleasures and discoveries. Rather than presenting a single panoramic view, the design gathers harbours, beaches, historic buildings and miniature scenes of leisure across an elongated island landscape. Deep sea blue surrounds vivid greens and sunlit yellows, while the name “RHODES” appears in bold lettering on a ribbon near the upper centre. The result is both map and invitation: geographical description reshaped into a playful itinerary.

Created during the interwar expansion of Mediterranean tourism, the poster belongs to an era in which graphic advertising helped make distant destinations newly imaginable. Travel posters were displayed not simply to document places but to define their appeal at a glance, often compressing scenery, climate, history and recreation into a single persuasive composition. Rhodes offered particularly rich material. Its maritime position, ancient associations, historic architecture and beaches allowed designers to present the island as both culturally resonant and thoroughly modern as a holiday destination.

A closer look

The island rises through the vertical composition as an irregular green form encircled by blue water. Scenes are distributed asymmetrically along its coastline, encouraging the eye to travel from one vignette to the next rather than settle on a conventional horizon. At the left edge, a busy harbour contains several differently shaped boats and ships, introducing the maritime routes by which many visitors would have approached Rhodes. Faint hills towards the upper left extend the sense of distance beyond the island itself.

Across the central and lower areas, tiny figures turn the map into a lively social world. Some gather around decorated stalls and festival banners; others explore architectural sites or relax near the shore. Beachgoers recline and play at the bottom of the design, while palms and other Mediterranean vegetation punctuate the coast. These details create shifts of scale: buildings become landmarks, people become emblems of activity, and the whole island reads as a compact sequence of experiences.

Above these scenes, a radiant deity-like figure presides over the composition, its emanating rays reinforcing the promise of warmth and clear weather. Patterned clothing and decorative contours give this figure an ornamental richness that contrasts with the simplified terrain below. Throughout, clean outlines and broad, flat passages of colour keep even the smallest episodes legible. Orange, red and white accents animate the dominant blue, green and yellow palette, while a narrow beige border neatly contains the abundance of incident.

Context and significance

In 1935 Rhodes formed part of the Italian-administered Dodecanese, a political context that underlay its promotion to international travellers during the interwar period. The island would become part of Greece after the Second World War. Without stating this history directly, the poster presents Rhodes through the cosmopolitan visual language of contemporary tourism: accessible by ship, abundant in antiquities and scenery, and organised for modern recreation.

What distinguishes the design is its refusal to choose between cartography and fantasy. The outline of the island provides an organising framework, yet its interior is filled with selective attractions rather than systematic geography. Rhodes becomes a miniature stage upon which archaeology, seafaring, festivals and seaside leisure coexist. That density rewards close inspection, but the poster’s larger message remains immediate: an island of sunlight, movement and varied experience, rendered with the clarity and buoyancy of 1930s promotional design.

Choosing the right size and finish

Artwork 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.

If you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, ask our workshop for advice.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. See examples of personalised artwork.

Choose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. See examples of our Aged artwork.

Every 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.

Framed 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.

Selected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and specialist framing are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, contact our workshop.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.