Fly TWA India

David Klein
c1960
Linen backed poster
25 x 40.25 in. (63.5 x 102 cm.)

Provenance: Distinguished private collection, New York

This India poster was created circa 1960 by the gifted American artist David Klein (1918 -2005) for TWA. The image shows an Indian wall relief with an elephant decorated with precious stones. Elephants were closely associated with royalty in India; they were dressed and adorned with expensive fabrics and jewelry. On top of the elephant, a howdah was placed for the ruler to sit on during processions or on their way to battle.

TWA (Trans World Airlines) was formed in 1924 as Transcontinental & Western Air. The airline’s first route was New York to Los Angeles, soon followed by multiple National routes. The airline expanded to serve Europe, the Middle East and Asia after WWII when the company was under the control of Howard Hughes, owner from 1939 until 1961. Hughes was a dominant force in expanding and promoting the routes flown by his company. The economy was vastly improving, and travels through air for business and pleasure increased too. Posters were a key element to promoting this form of travel and TWA. The airline started a decline in the 1970s that ended up in a third bankruptcy that caused their acquisition by American Airlines in 2001. The airline operated in 132 destinations worldwide and had a fleet size of 190.

Klein was best known for his influential work in advertising. Although he produced illustrations for Broadway theatrical productions, Hollywood films, the United States Army, and numerous corporate clients, Klein is best remembered for the iconic travel images he created for Howard Hughes and Trans World Airlines (TWA) during the 1950’s and 1960’s.

This is an Original Vintage Poster. It is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed and in excellent condition.