New York Nijveraars

A radiant testament to Belgian modernism at its peak

This exceptional poster, created in 1939 by Belgian painter and graphic designer Karel Maes, embodies the aesthetic power and creative boldness of an era when Europe looked to America with fascination. Rare, authentic, and signed, it stands among the finest examples of the modernist visual language developed in Belgium on the eve of the Second World War.

A striking visual statement in the service of modernity

Maes constructs a true graphic architecture here: a series of stylised, soaring, almost futuristic skyscrapers rise at the centre of the composition. The red, white, and blue palette – reinforced by a constellation of stars – creates an immediate bridge to the United States, and especially to New York, the ultimate symbol of industrial dynamism in the 1930s.
The strict geometry, subtle gradients, and monumental structure reflect the constructivist aesthetic that Maes championed in Belgium. The result is an elegant, powerful, irresistibly modern poster.

An official creation representing Belgium on the international stage

This work was produced to promote the participation of Belgian industries (“Nijveraars”) in an international exhibition, the “Wereldtentoonstelling”, at the very moment when New York was hosting one of the most ambitious World’s Fairs in history.
The presence of an official stamp and the mention of the Brussels publisher Plakaat Marci confirm its status as an authentic document originally intended to represent Belgium abroad. This is not a later reproduction, but a historical communication piece.

A rare, sought-after and highly decorative work

With its generous format (around one metre high), vibrant colours and energetic composition, this poster is highly sought after by collectors of graphic art, Art Deco, World’s Fair memorabilia or works linked to the history of New York.
Displayed in:

• an executive office,

• an industrial-style loft,

• a library or dedicated collection room,
  it instantly becomes a focal point—a genuine conversation piece.

A work at the crossroads of art, industry and cultural diplomacy

Beyond its spectacular aesthetic, this poster expresses the determination of a small nation to join the great international dynamic of 1939. It also reveals an artist—Maes—at the height of his graphic mastery, capable of creating an image that is strong, symbolic, almost iconic.
A rare, authentic, and deeply evocative piece: a fragment of modernity, ideal for collectors of vintage posters, 20th-century graphic design and characterful interior décor.