Winter Sports in Austria

This original vintage Austrian ski and winter travel poster was designed in 1951 by Paul Aigner to promote winter holidays in Austria. This version was produced specifically for the Danish market, with the inviting slogan “Vintersport i Østrig” – “Winter Sports in Austria.”

Aigner created a wonderfully optimistic image of Alpine tourism: a glamorous young woman in a bright yellow ski jacket shields her eyes from the brilliant mountain sun while smiling towards the viewer. Behind her, a cable car climbs above a spectacular snow-covered Alpine landscape. The strong yellow, blue, and white palette gives the poster an exceptionally fresh and energetic appearance and perfectly evokes sunny days, skiing, and winter holidays in the Austrian Alps.

The poster belongs to the golden age of post-war European tourism advertising, when Austria actively promoted its mountains and rapidly developing ski resorts to international visitors. Cable cars and ski lifts transformed Alpine tourism during this period, making high-altitude skiing increasingly accessible and becoming powerful symbols of the modern Austrian winter holiday.

Paul Aigner (1909–1984) was an Austrian graphic artist and illustrator whose work included tourism and advertising posters. His polished figurative style was particularly well suited to the optimistic visual language of the 1950s. Here, the close-up composition and radiant expression of the skier create an immediate sense of warmth and excitement despite the snowy setting.

A particularly attractive example of 1950s Austrian ski poster design, combining skiing, Alpine scenery, a cable car, and classic mid-century glamour. With its vivid colours and joyful expression, it is a striking decorative poster that would look superb framed in a ski chalet, mountain home, or contemporary interior.

Mounted on linen. Very good condition with professional restorations to the margins. Displays beautifully.