Empire Marketing Board Poster: “Mahogany Rafts on the Oluwe”, 1930, by Gerald Spencer Pryse

This very large original vintage lithograph was one of several commissioned by the Empire Marketing Board (EMB) to promote trade, natural resources, and industry across the Empire.  The poster depicts African paddlers navigating massive mahogany timber rafts long the Oluwe river (now known as the Oluwa river and located in Oyo and Ondo states in southwestern Nigeria).  Bold color blocks, deep forest greens, and vibrant golden light are used to capture the atmosphere of the tropical waterways in this rare piece which represents both a compelling work of mid-century art and a significant historical artifact of colonial-era propaganda.

Artist: Gerald Spencer Pryse (1881–1956)

Dimensions: 175 cm x  120 cm

Year of Publication: 1930

Country of Origin: England

Printer: Nathaniel Lloyd & Co., Ltd. for H.M. Stationery Office.

Print type: Lithograph on paper.