Cameroun, Parc National de Waza by Dessirier, 1960s

Waza National Park is a national park in the Department of Logone-et-Chari, in Far North Region, Cameroon. It was founded in 1934 as a hunting reserve, and covers a total of 1,700 km². Waza achieved national park status in 1968, and became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1979.

During the 1960s, there was a growing interest in the cultural and natural wonders of Africa. This period saw an increase in tourism as people sought to experience the continent's unique landscapes and cultural treasures. Posters like Dessirier's played a significant role in this trend, using art to communicate the allure and excitement of these destinations.  

The striking tourism advertisement captures the raw beauty of African wildlife through a stylized, mid-century modern aesthetic. The central artwork highlights a proud African lion and a lioness against a deeply textured backdrop reminiscent of traditional canvas painting or fine block printing. Overhead, a silhouette of migrating birds or antelopes breaks the skyline, reflecting the park's renowned biodiversity. Bold, mid-century typography commands the bottom portion of the print, showcasing the title "Parc National de Waza" alongside smaller bilingual text below.

Artist: Jean Dessierier

Dimensions: 99 cm x 64 cm

Year of Publication: 1968

Country of Origin: France

Printer: Imprimerie Dardelet, Grenoble.

Print type: Lithograph.

Condition: Good restored condition, repaired tears and edge damage and subtle toning expected of original mid-century posters.