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50 x 36 famous vintage poster titled
"USS Nautilus" (or sometimes General Dynamics / Hydrodynamics or part of the Atoms for Peace series) designed by the Swiss graphic artist Erik Nitsche in 1955.
Poster Details
Artist: Erik Nitsche (1908–1998), a pioneer of industrial graphic design who was the art director for General Dynamics from 1955 to 1960.
Commissioning Company: General Dynamics, the company responsible for building the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571).
Purpose: The poster was part of an advertising campaign designed to present atomic energy as a force for scientific progress and peace, rather than war, easing public concerns after WWII.
Design Concept: The design features a stylized nautilus shell from which the modern nuclear submarine emerges, symbolizing the progression of technology from ancient organic forms to cutting-edge innovation. Because the submarine's design was top-secret, Nitsche was given only a basic idea of its look, leading to this abstracted, highly symbolic image.
Style: It is a celebrated example of mid-century modernist graphic design, known for its clear design, smart typography, and elegant, geometric forms. |
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