Bergen Travel Poster: Norges Varemesse by Gunnar Tandberg, 1927

Norges varemesse, Bergen, 31. juli – 7. aug. 1927 by Gunnar Tandberg is a striking Art Deco travel poster created for the Norwegian Trade Fair in Bergen at the height of the interwar boom. With its dynamic Viking ship cutting across stylized waves, crisp factory silhouettes, and orderly stands of trees, the design celebrates Norway’s maritime past and its modern industrial future—all distilled into a bold, optimistic vision typical of the late 1920s.

This is a high-quality fine art print of the original poster, produced on your choice of acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. The Unique Maps Co. offers a range of sizes to suit your space, plus professional framing so it arrives ready to hang. We can also personalize your print with custom captions, dates, or a dedication—ideal for commemorating a special trip to Bergen or a milestone celebration.

About the artist: While little biographical information survives for Gunnar Tandberg, he can be situated among the Norwegian illustrators and poster designers who embraced the streamlined aesthetics of Art Deco during the 1920s. His work here shows a confident command of geometry, simplified forms, and elegant typography—hallmarks of Northern European graphic design in the period, where posters doubled as both advertising and civic art.

Why this subject matters: Bergen—gateway to the fjords and one of Norway’s great port cities—served as a fitting stage for the national trade fair in 1927. The event symbolized a nation confidently engaging with innovation and industry while honoring a deep maritime heritage. Tandberg’s composition brings these themes into dialogue: the longship as timeless emblem of seafaring prowess; the factory block and plume as shorthand for progress; verdant tree forms hinting at natural abundance—together a clear, modern advertisement for a forward-looking Norway.

Design and color to love: Strong contrasts of red, yellow, and black dominate, with purposeful accents of green and blue. Flat planes of color and semicircular forms radiate like a rising sun, while repeating red-and-black wave patterns create rhythm and movement beneath the ship’s prow. Even without shading, the poster feels kinetic and fresh; the geometry reads cleanly at a distance, making it superb wall art. Its saturated reds and golden tones bring warmth to a living room, study, or hallway, while the inky blacks pair effortlessly with contemporary or vintage frames.

Whether you’re commemorating a visit to Bergen, celebrating Norwegian roots, or curating an Art Deco wall, this print makes a thoughtful and distinctive gift—perfect for birthdays, housewarmings, Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, or as a memento for anyone who has recently traveled to Norway.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.