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A bold postwar maritime poster designed by Dutch artist Ad Werner, promoting the new twin tourist-class ocean liners Ryndam and Maasdam of the Holland-America Line, framed within a stylized silhouette of Poseidon, God of the sea.
This striking mid-century poster introduces the "New Twins" Ryndam and Maasdam—two sister ships launched in the early 1950s—as embodiments of a postwar reinvention of transatlantic passenger travel. Designed by Dutch graphic designer Ad Werner, the composition merges classical symbolism and modern maritime technology: the twin ships appear at sea under a moonlit sky, nestled within the colossal dark-blue silhouette of Poseidon. His towering form, crowned and brandishing a trident, serves as both a guardian and a symbol of safe, commanding passage across the Atlantic.
The image’s spare, modernist aesthetic—with smooth gradients, clean silhouettes, and a refined palette of navy, cream, and gold—is characteristic of 1950s European graphic design. The text, set in a combination of sans-serif and calligraphic script, reflects the dual message of innovation and tradition. The slogan “A new concept in tourist travel!” appears at the top, emphasizing Holland-America Line’s appeal to the growing postwar middle class eager for affordable yet comfortable transatlantic passage.
Originally ordered as a cargo-passenger vessel under the name Dinteldyk, the Ryndam was reconfigured as a tourist-class liner and launched in 1950, reflecting Holland-America Line’s adaptation to postwar market demands, including the transportation of emigrants to North America. Her sister ship, the Maasdam, launched in 1952, was similarly purposed. Together they embodied a new model of economical sea travel with simplified class divisions, designed to accommodate the rising tide of postwar immigration and tourism. The Ryndam served until 1973, while the Maasdam was sold in 1968.
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