{"product_id":"balsam-vintage-liqueur-poster-1910","title":"Balsam Vintage Liqueur Poster, 1910","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe anonymous 1910 poster \u003cem\u003eBalsam\u003c\/em\u003e turns a winter outing into a brisk and persuasive beverage advertisement. At its centre, a smiling man and woman ride together on a sled, their dark and vivid red clothing standing out against snow, pale sky and faint evergreen forms. The composition is immediately legible: the brand name commands the top of the poster, the figures provide its cheerful human focus, and a labelled bottle in the lower left identifies the drink being promoted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCreated at a time when commercial graphics increasingly combined illustration, typography and brand imagery, \u003cem\u003eBalsam\u003c\/em\u003e uses recreation rather than detailed explanation to establish its appeal. The winter setting associates the beverage with warmth, sociability and outdoor pleasure, while the clear hierarchy allows its message to be understood at a glance. Its maker is unrecorded, but the poster reflects the early twentieth-century designer’s ability to compress atmosphere, narrative and practical advertising into a single decorative arrangement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA closer look\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe two riders dominate the foreground, seated close together and turned towards the viewer. The woman’s scarlet coat is the strongest area of colour, enlivened by carefully indicated buttons and a broad fur collar whose pale, soft texture contrasts with the garment’s flatter red surface. Beside her, the man’s black coat supplies a weighty dark form that anchors the pair. Their open smiles and forward-facing poses give the scene the immediacy of a fleeting holiday snapshot, while the sled beneath them is marked by fine shadows that separate it from the snow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBehind the figures, the landscape is deliberately restrained. Cream and grey-white snow recedes towards a softly defined slope, with traces of green trees and faint forms against a pale blue sky. This subdued backdrop does not compete with the advertisement’s central action; instead, it sharpens the contrast between cool surroundings and warm clothing. The snow catches small highlights, creating a crisp, almost crystalline surface around the darker silhouettes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe bottle at lower left forms a compact secondary focal point. Light along the glass clarifies its contours and draws attention to the liquid within, while the prominent “BALSAM” label connects it directly to the bold word set above the figures. This diagonal relationship—from title, through the animated riders, down to the product—guides the eye through the full height of the design. A simple border contains the scene, reinforcing the poster’s orderly, self-contained graphic structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContext and significance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdvertising of this period often relied upon an aspirational scene to give a commodity a recognisable social character. Here, the drink is not isolated as a still-life object: it belongs to a carefully constructed world of winter leisure, fashionable dress and shared enjoyment. The anonymous designer balances descriptive touches—the fur, reflected glass and snow shadows—with broad blocks of red, brown and cream that remain effective from a distance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBalsam\u003c\/em\u003e is especially engaging for the economy of that visual argument. A limited cast, a spare landscape and two strategically placed instances of the brand name are enough to create a complete seasonal narrative. The result is both an advertisement and a lively example of early twentieth-century popular graphic culture, preserving the period’s taste for direct storytelling, ornamental colour and instantly readable design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing the right size and finish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArtwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop for advice\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 36x20in (90x50cm) version of this art print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee examples of personalised artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/sepia-aged-maps\"\u003eSee examples of our Aged artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFramed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSelected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/custom-framing\"\u003especialist framing\u003c\/a\u003e are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact our workshop\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67650048065927,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67650048098695,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67650048131463,"sku":null,"price":212.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67650048164231,"sku":null,"price":121.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67650048196999,"sku":null,"price":288.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67650048229767,"sku":null,"price":308.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67650048262535,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67650048295303,"sku":null,"price":461.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67650048328071,"sku":null,"price":480.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67650048360839,"sku":null,"price":221.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67650048393607,"sku":null,"price":884.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67650048426375,"sku":null,"price":884.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67650048459143,"sku":null,"price":404.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67650048491911,"sku":null,"price":1680.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67650048524679,"sku":null,"price":1575.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67650048557447,"sku":null,"price":586.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67650048590215,"sku":null,"price":2688.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67650048622983,"sku":null,"price":2496.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67650048655751,"sku":null,"price":989.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67650048688519,"sku":null,"price":3600.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67650048721287,"sku":null,"price":3360.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_dbf37db1-f55c-4fc0-9318-610fd2a307cd.jpg?v=1791405663","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.ca\/de\/products\/balsam-vintage-liqueur-poster-1910","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}