1967 New York
DESCRIPTION
Published by David Schiller in 1967 and illustrated by Jim Michaelson, this remarkable bird's-eye view captures New York City at the height of the psychedelic era.
Manhattan rises from the harbor as an impossibly dense forest of skyscrapers, rendered in vibrant shades of blue and green against a stark white background. Issued as part of Schiller's celebrated series of city posters that also included San Francisco, London, and California, the view combines the visual experimentation of the 1960s with an extraordinary level of architectural detail.
Hidden Landmarks and Counterculture References
Michaelson transformed the city into a visual scavenger hunt. Familiar landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge, Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, Macy's, NYU, the Village Gate, Café Au Go Go, Electric Circus, Figaro, and the Bitter End are scattered throughout the composition. Nearly every building contains tiny details, from rooftop water towers and laundry lines to storefront signs and neighborhood streets. Perched atop one of the skyscrapers is a small Jefferson Airplane, a recurring motif that appears in several of Michaelson's works and serves as a playful nod to the music and counterculture that inspired the series.
An Illustrated Portrait of the City
Equally impressive is the decorative border that surrounds the view. Rather than relying on purely ornamental flourishes, Michaelson incorporated miniature scenes drawn from around New York City, weaving bridges, landmarks, entertainers, waterfront activity, and elements of urban life into an intricate Art Nouveau-inspired frame. Together with the central cityscape, these details create a richly layered portrait of New York in the late 1960s, one that rewards repeated viewing and stands among the most memorable pictorial city posters of the period.
CONDITION
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