Fantasy Travel and Fiction Novels: Art that Explores the Places Our Minds Wander To
Hundreds of Anderson Design Group’s original poster designs and travel illustrations showcase beautiful places across America and the world, travel art rendered in a style that celebrates the vintage poster art of the 1900s. But today, we’re celebrating two art collections that acknowledge the places our minds go when we daydream or read, places we can't visit in-person. Say hello to Fantasy Travel and Literary Classics!
Fantasy Travel Destinations
Some of humanity’s most incredible structures, cities, geographic regions, and landmarks have disappeared due to natural disasters or war. Some of these places are heavily debated as to whether or not they ever existed. As travel artists and original illustrators with big imaginations and a keen interest in vintage posters, travel art, retro illustrations, and the art styles from the Golden Age of Illustration, we like to imagine what these places were like at their prime.
Since we’ve always had an interest in fantasy travel destinations, ancient wonders, and legendary places, we decided to make an art collection dedicated to the places we can only visit in our minds. Quoting ADG’s own Joel Anderson, Creative Director and Founder:
“For years, the artists of Anderson Design Group have been depicting the world’s most-visited travel destinations in the classic style of The 20th Century’s Golden Age Of Travel Poster Art. Recently, our talented team of illustrators began to research ancient wonders, legendary landmarks, lost cities, and mythological marvels—places that would be on any adventure lover’s list—if only they could be reached! Team ADG began rendering fantastic travel posters of distant destinations. By following their wanderlust into the past via anthropology, archaeology, and artistic license, a new collection of poster art and postcard art was born. Enjoy!”
This new collection currently features 12 original poster designs. The following are three of our favorites (these places did exist at one point):
The Colossus of Rhodes. Built in 282 BC but destroyed in 226 BC by an earthquake, the Colossus of Rhodes was a massive statue of the sun god Helios. The people of Rhodes labored over the statue for years, believing it was because of the sun god’s blessings that the island had once withstood a long siege and emerged victorious. During an earthquake just a few decades after it was finished, the statue snapped at the knees.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. To have stood and witnessed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon must have been the experience of a lifetime! Built in 600 BC and destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC, the elaborate gardens were a series of rooftop gardens commissioned by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife. The gardens stood in stark contrast to the desert of the region, earning them a place as one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria. Built in 280 BC and destroyed by an earthquake in 1323 AD, this lighthouse was located on the island of Pharos, in the harbor of Alexandria. Built of marble blocks with lead mortar, the lighthouse stood out from other structures, as it was constructed in three stages: a square base, an octagonal middle section, and a cylindrical top.
Now for three fantasy travel destinations we are fascinated by, though there is no definitive consensus on whether these places truly existed or not (most believe these are mythical travel destinations):
Atlantis: The Lost City. Atlantis is a legendary island mentioned in Plato’s works, Timaeus and Critias, as part of an allegory on the hubris of nations. In the story, Atlantis is described as a naval empire that ruled the western parts of the known world, making it the literary counterpart of the Achaemenid Empire. After an ill-fated attempt to conquer “Ancient Athens,” Atlantis falls out of favor with the deities and submerges into the Atlantic Ocean.
El Dorado: The Lost Aztec City Of Gold. The legend of El Dorado tells the story of a mythical city of gold located in South America, where the ruler, known as “El Dorado” (meaning “the gilded one” in Spanish), would cover himself in gold dust and then plunge into a sacred lake to wash it off, leading to the belief of a city filled with immense wealth.
Camelot: Home Of King Arthur & The Knights Of The Round Table. Camelot was a mythical castle city, said to be located in Great Britain, where King Arthur held court. It was the center of the Kingdom of Logres and, in Arthurian legend, would become the location of the Round Table that held 150 knights.
If these fantasy travel destinations bring out your wanderlust, be sure to check out the World Travel Guide for all the best details on places you can see! And for travel inspiration, be sure to explore our World Travel Collection.
Art of Literary Classics
The books that have shaped human culture for centuries offer enduring insights into the human experience, dating back to the earliest recorded stories. Classic novels serve as one of the main repositories of human thought and consciousness, enabling anyone in the modern age to travel back in time and explore how authors expressed themselves in centuries long past.
For generations, people have encouraged the reading of classic literature, seeing such activity as essential for personal growth, cultural understanding, and intellectual development. Such novels expand vocabulary, improve writing skills, and increase knowledge of history and culture.
For an art collection about literary classics, ADG Creative Director and Founder Joel Anderson and his team of award-winning artists created their own unique take on classic novel covers, providing renewed perspectives blended with timeless themes to depict iconic tales that have been told and retold for generations. Quoting Joel:
“Classic literature and illustration have had a long and glorious history together. Great book covers and interior illustrations have always enhanced and promoted great stories. As book nerds, we love the classics. As artists, we enjoy using our talents to celebrate culture and encourage adventure. Our Travel Poster Art commemorates special destinations. In the same way, our Literary Classics Art celebrates our favorite imaginary journeys. Enjoy!”
We’ve recently added several new designs to our literary art collection, which now numbers over 50 posters of timeless classics. Here are three of our favorites:
Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo. An iconic tale and one of the most celebrated novels of the 19th century, Les Misérables was published in 1862, and it elaborates on the history of France at that time through the eyes and minds of numerous characters, including Jean Valjean, a character who was imprisoned for a petty crime.
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. First published in 1623, Macbeth is a play in which a Scottish general (Macbeth) receives a prophecy from three witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. This leads to a series of increasingly violent acts, including murder, in order for Macbeth to secure the throne.
The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling. Popularized by the iconic Disney children’s cartoon, the original story of The Jungle Book is a collection of stories first published in 1894, wherein most of the characters are animals. However, the principal character and protagonist is Mowgli, a boy who spends much of his childhood in the jungle.
We hope you enjoy our art of literary classics, and if you ever need a reading list, we think the Tea and Ink Society has the best one.
Decorating with Our Favorite Stories and Imaginary Destinations
With over 3,000 original poster designs available as art prints, framed posters, metal signs, or as sets of notecards or postcards, Anderson Design Group has produced one of the largest and most diverse arrays of original artwork ever created, all under the roof of a small, family-owned art studio in Nashville. After you’ve reviewed Fantasy Travel and Literary Classics, be sure to check out our other original art collections, and let the decorating begin!
Happy exploring,
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
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