KEES VAN DER LAAN (1903-1983) LONDEN. 1938. 39 7/8x24 3/8 inches. Condition A-: trimmed to the image; creases in left margin. Van der Laan spent three formative years in Paris, 1924-27, when French Art Deco was blossoming. When he returned to Holland his Art Deco sensibilities were further reinforced upon encountering A. M. Cassandre's work for Dutch clients. While all of his posters reflect an affinity for transportation in the Machine Age, this 1938 poster, Londen, is one of the best tributes ever paid to Cassandre. It combines recognizable images from some of Cassandre's most famous posters (the funnels from the Statendam and the locomotive from Naar Londen). While the influence is clear, Van der Laan showcases his own brilliant talent in the coloring and the execution of the image. This extremely rare poster is one of the most desirable Art Deco transportation images. Van Dam p. 53.
