1929 Chicago New York Central Lines Leslie Ragan

Date: 1929Artist: Ragan, Leslie               Size (in): 41” x 27” Size (cm): 104.1 x 68.6Condition: A-Linen backed: Yes  This spectacular Art Deco style poster advertising Chicago as a travel destination is the first of several posters created by the artist Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) for the New York Central Railroad.  For this poster Ragan renders a painterly image of Chicago’s iconic Michigan Avenue illuminated by midday sun reflecting off a massive thunder cloud rising over the Wiloughby and Montgomery Ward towers.  The city’s original Peristyle, a semicircular structure of paired Roman Doric style columns designed by Edward H. Bennett and erected in Grant Park in 1917, can be seen in the image.  This structure was razed in 1953 but a nearly full-size replica of it known as the Millenium Monument was erected in 2002 and still stands today in Chicago’s Wrigley Square.  The lower right corner indicates this poster was printed by the Latham Litho. & Ptg. Co., Long Island City, New Y