vintage travel poster for Tunisie (Tunisia), created by the Tunisian artist Hatem El Mekki (1918–2003) circa 1964. NOTE: Poster exhibits wear and minor discoloration. It is not backed on linen or laid down. 39 1/2 x 25 1/2 in. (100.3 x 64.8 cm.) $120-160
ARTIST PROFILE: Hatem El Mekki (1918–2003) was a foundational figure in modern Tunisian art, celebrated as a "painter of the thousand talents" for his mastery across painting, graphic design, and illustration. Born in Jakarta to a Tunisian father and an Indonesian mother, he eventually settled in Carthage, where his work became a visual bridge between Mediterranean and North African identities. El Mekki is perhaps most widely recognized for his prolific contributions to Tunisian national iconography, having designed over five hundred postage stamps and several banknotes, but his travel posters remain some of his most evocative works. These posters, often commissioned to promote Tunisian tourism in the mid-20th century, utilized bold, modernist compositions and a sun-drenched palette to capture the architectural elegance of places like Sidi Bou Said and the vibrant culture of the Maghreb. Today, he is remembered not only for his technical versatility but also for his role in establishing the School of Tunis, an artistic movement that sought to define a post-colonial Tunisian aesthetic.
