Bordeaux Travel Poster: Exposition Maritime Internationale by Etablissements Minot, 1907

Exposition maritime internationale. Bordeaux, mai–novembre 1907 by Établissements Minot captures the spirit of a grand maritime celebration at the height of the Art Nouveau era. Created in 1907 to promote Bordeaux’s International Maritime Exposition, this antique travel poster evokes the bustle of a great Atlantic port on the Garonne River—where shipping, trade, and modern engineering met the elegance of Belle Époque design. Flowing lines, botanical ornament, and a luminous palette come together to advertise months of festivities in a city renowned for wine, riverfront architecture, and seafaring heritage.

This listing offers a high-quality fine art reproduction of the original poster, available on your choice of acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. Printed with richly pigmented inks for exceptional color fidelity, it can be ordered in a range of standard or custom sizes. The Unique Maps Co. also provides optional framing, matting, and personalization—such as custom captions, dates, or gift dedications—so you can tailor the piece perfectly to your space or occasion.

Établissements Minot was a French publishing and printing house active in the early 20th century, part of the vibrant ecosystem of poster ateliers that brought Art Nouveau advertising to boulevards and railway stations across France. Known for deft chromolithography and crisp, decorative typography, firms like Minot collaborated with municipal committees and event organizers to create imagery that was both informative and irresistibly stylish. Their work helped define the visual language of travel and world’s fairs during a period of rapid industrial progress.

The 1907 International Maritime Exposition in Bordeaux celebrated France’s naval innovation, global trade ties, and the city’s longstanding maritime identity. Running from May to November, the fair drew visitors to pavilions, ship displays, and demonstrations that showcased everything from navigation and shipbuilding to oceanographic science. This poster operates as both an invitation and a panorama—bridging the romance of seafaring with the optimism of a new century.

The composition is classically Art Nouveau: curving lines lead the eye across deep blue waters and sky, while warm yellows and browns add sunlit glow to architectural and nautical details. Floral motifs—most notably stylized roses (Rosa sp.)—frame views of ships and the city, uniting natural forms with modern spectacle. The lithographic finesse is evident in the soft gradients and harmonious color blocking, with touches of red adding a lively counterpoint to the dominant blues. As wall art, it pairs beautifully with interiors that favor nautical accents, Belle Époque elegance, or contemporary spaces seeking a confident, color-forward statement piece connected to place and history.

This fine art print makes a thoughtful gift for lovers of Bordeaux and French culture, maritime enthusiasts, and anyone with fond memories of travel. It’s perfect for Christmas, housewarmings, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, or as a keepsake for someone who has recently returned from Bordeaux and wants to keep a little of the river’s sparkle and the city’s timeless charm at home.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.