The French ocean liner Normandie, the largest ship in the world when it was launched in 1932, caught fire less than a decade later while being converted into a troopship by the U.S. Navy. Although the boat never sailed again, the classic poster advertising its glory days has endured as an iconic example of Art Deco design. A 1935 Normandie print, created by Ukrainian-French artist A.M. Cassandre, will be offered at Christie’s May 20th Vintage Posters auction in South Kensington.

Cassandre used an airbrush to apply color to a lithographic stone, which allows for subtle shading that highlights the crisp Cubist angles, as exemplified in Normandie. The monumental vessel, a testament to the era’s French opulence, confidently stands atop the text. "The perspective perfectly captures the magnificence, speed, and comfort of the new ocean liner," says Nicolette Tomkinson, director of Christie’s vintage poster department. "The innovative use of typeface is also integral to the design."

Cassandre, whose poster is expected to garner between $11,000 and $17,000, invented several signature fonts and is known for creating the trademark Yves Saint Laurent logo. In addition to Normandie, a number of recognizable designs, including a 1921 print, Bitter Campari, by Leonetto Cappiello and a 1928 lithograph of Herbert Matter’s PKZ, will also be up for auction.