From Monarchy to Modernity: Travel, Identity, & the Czechoslovak First Republic (1918–1938)

On October 28, 1918, Czechoslovakia declared its independence and became a new country formed from Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Slovakia, and Carpathian Ruthenia—all lands formerly part of the Austro Hungarian Empire which had been officially dissolved as a result of World War I. The period from 1918 to 1938 is referred to as the First Republic.

This exhibition explores seldom-seen travel posters from this golden age of Czechoslovakian history. They were created by artists, designers, and commercial studios who understood that tourism was more than leisure—it was diplomacy. In a region long defined by the imperial borders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, travel posters became vehicles for soft power, enticing both domestic and foreign audiences to see the First Czechoslovak Republic as a land of opportunity, beauty, and progress.

Nicholas D. Lowry is a New York City born internationally recognized authority on vintage posters. He is President of Swann Auction Galleries where he oversees the vintage poster department,  and is also known for his appearances on the PBS television series Antiques Roadshow for which he has been appraising vintage posters for almost 30 years. He recently starred in Bohemian Identity, a documentary on the history of Czech graphic design.