1953 Lucien Boucher Air France Double Hemisphere Celestial (surrealist)

The finest of Lucien Bucher's iconic comic maps drawn for Air France, here in a scarce large format edition. Boucher's work for Air France is considered an embodiment of the golden age of air travel. This map, presented as a double hemisphere celestial, was drawn and published around 1953. In a surrealistic style, Boucher illustrates the constellations as seen from the northern and southern hemispheres. The constellations of the Zodiac are highlighted in gold and orange. Taurus is missing from this group, as it is obscured by the Earth, rendered in tones of burn orange, within which is a spider work of Air France routes. Wind heads decorate each corner. Here the airplane is master not just of the sky, but the whole universe, connecting the passenger not merely to earthly destinations, but to the heavenly spheres themselves.

The printer has utilized chromolithographic printing techniques to achieve splendid rich tones throughout. This map was printed for Air France by Perceval of Paris. This particular chart is dated via a reference number in the lower left, 443/P/ 9-53, suggesting a 1953 publication date.