by InTrieste
An exhibition at the Magazzino delle Idee is bringing the history of ocean travel to life through vintage advertising posters and memorabilia. Titled “A Sea of Paper: The Promotion of Sea Travel between the 19th and 20th Centuries,” the exhibition traces a century of maritime history through the lens of graphic design.
Opening on September 20, the exhibit features around 300 posters, brochures, and sketches, all drawn from the archives of the Italian Liners cultural association and private collections. It highlights the rise of steam-powered ocean liners, from the early 19th century to the mid-1960s, when air travel took over as the primary means of long-distance travel.
Curated by naval historian Maurizio Eliseo, the exhibition showcases the artistry of promotional graphics that marketed ocean liners as symbols of luxury and innovation. Works by renowned designers such as Marcello Dudovich and Victor Beals are displayed alongside rare posters, including an 1874 advertisement for the Colombo steamer’s voyage from Genoa to Latin America.
The exhibition runs through November 17, offering a nostalgic look at a golden era of travel when crossing the ocean by ship was as much about the journey as the destination.
A Sea of Paper: The Promotion of Sea Travel between the 19th and 20th Centuries
Magazzino delle Idee, Trieste, Italy
September 20 – November 17
Tickets: €8 (general), €5 (reduced)
For more information: info@magazzinodelleidee.it
