A Meeting of The Chiefs Original Original Santa Fe Railroad Advertsing Poster
- 1949
- Hernando G. Villa (1881-1952)
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22 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches ~ (55 x 40 cm)$750
- Unbacked
This poster is currently unbacked. At check out, you will be given the opportunity to add backing which would cost $225 and take approximately 6-8 weeks.
Linen backing is the industry standard of conservation. Canvas is stretchered and a sheet of acid free barrier paper is laid down. The poster is then pasted to the acid free paper using an acid free paste. This process is fully reversible and gives support to the poster. A border of linen is left around the poster and can be used by a framer to mount the poster so that nothing touches the poster itself. Backing is what we recommend for framing, and for any poster needing restoration.
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Please note small stain and tear to bottom left corner.
The title of the poster refers to meeting in the image between the Native American chief and one of Santa Fe trains, the Super Chief or The Chief. Both trains traveled Chicago to Los Angeles. The beautiful image shows the majestic Southwestern scenery and the juxtaposition between past and present. The Native American chief is riding a white horse, wearing the traditional feathered war bonnet and raising his spear to the passing train. Santa Fe Railway was founded in 1859. The company helped settle the South-west in the later part of the 19th Century by selling real estate and farm land sanctioned by Congress. They became the second transcontinental railway to exist and expanded further with north-south routes in California. Santa Fe had a robust freight business and expanded its transportation reach with a bussing system. The company was featured in a 1945 song, "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" sung by Judy Garland for the film "The Harvey Girls." In 1996, the railway merged with the Burlington Northern Railway to form the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway. Hernando G. Villa was born in Los Angeles and studied art in The School of Art & Design locally. Villa travelled to Europe to continue his studies and then moved back to Los Angeles where he opened his own studio. He created illustrations for many magazines and advertisements for Santa Fe for over 40 years. He designed the famous Chief emblem for the Santa Fe Railway. Villa liked to work in oil, watercolor, pastel, and charcoal. His most frequent subjects were Native Americans, Mexican vaqueros, California missions, and coastal views.
