Wednesday, April 3, 2013

C is for Chamonix-Mount Blanc. The Golden Age of Travel Posters

Chamonix - Mount-Blanc, France, the home of the first Winter Olympics, January 25th through February 5, 1924.  Chamonix is also called the "Death Sport Capital of the World."  (When I research information about these countries and artists, there is always something unusual to uncover).  

 Why "The Death Sport Capital"?  If you visit Chamonix, you can participate in:
mountain climbing, extreme skiing, paragliding, rafting, ice climbing, all of which have risks, but the name is still chilling.

Chamonix is one of the oldest ski resorts in France and you can see by the ruggedness of the mountains,  that any of these sports in that area would be a challenge, and not for wimps like me.  (I think I would sit in a cafe, have a glass of wine and people watch).  The area was also the setting of a James Bond film, The World is Not Enough.  To have some idea of why it might be called "The Death Sport Capital of the World," I included a You Tube video link from the movie.

http://youtu.be/bwWD9mUyQuE 
Christie's, the famous auction house, listed this poster in one of their auctions,  estimated price, 2 to 3 thousand pounds.  Vintage posters are a good investment, especially if you found one or two in a dusty antique store or in a relative's attic.

 The artist, Auguste Matisse, (1866-1963) is not well-known.
Auguste Matisse.  Winter Olympics, 1924.  Dover Press
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14 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 3, 2013 at 4:43 AM

    Love your theme, and that poster is spectacular!

    Look forward to the rest of your challenge posts!
    Damyanti @Daily(w)rite
    Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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    1. loverofwordsApril 3, 2013 at 8:44 AM

      Thank you. There is so much to learn from them and the time period.

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  2. Lynn ProctorApril 3, 2013 at 6:08 AM

    i know, it is amazing how valuable some old posters can be---lovely :)

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  3. loverofwordsApril 3, 2013 at 8:44 AM

    Hi Lynn, always good to have you stop by.

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  4. Susan KaneApril 3, 2013 at 1:32 PM

    The 1924 Olympics must have had an air of surrealism--to be the first winter olympics. The poster--love that era and style.

    From the A to Z, a new follower!!

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  5. loverofwordsApril 3, 2013 at 1:59 PM

    I do too. What is interesting is that the eagle? is not red in the Christie's auction, he is brown. The artist makes the bird look very powerful, especially clutching the French flag -- oh the symbolism. Thanks for being a new follower.

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  6. Gill EdwardsApril 3, 2013 at 2:03 PM

    Hi and thanks for following my blog. I love your header photo, so dramatic

    Gill x

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    1. loverofwordsApril 3, 2013 at 4:00 PM

      Hi Gill -- I like the header as well. Alaska is an amazing place.

      Delete
  7. Tracy MooreApril 3, 2013 at 3:15 PM

    What a cool poster! Nice theme :)

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    1. loverofwordsApril 3, 2013 at 4:01 PM

      Hard to think of a theme sometimes, but it does help to keep you focused. I did not have one last year and I was all over the place with topics.

      Delete
  8. momto8April 3, 2013 at 9:00 PM

    so interesting!!! love the history lesson and the poster. My college son is in France for a few weeks and wants to go skiing....I am here in the states saying no!!
    I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
    loving reading the AZ challenges!

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  9. loverofwordsApril 4, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    I hope you are able to visit your son, what a good excuse. The skiing is fabulous.

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  10. pam levyApril 5, 2013 at 9:40 AM

    The bird makes me think of the Gray Jays that hung around the dining decks up on Copper Mountain back in my skiing days. Their great-grand-Jays have no doubt learned to sneak treats there.

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  11. loverofwordsApril 5, 2013 at 4:58 PM

    They are very clever birds. I remember the ones in Yellowstone lifting the flaps up from snowmobile packs to get food.

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