Chicago Travel Poster by Leslie Ragan

Chicago by Leslie Ragan is a classic American travel poster celebrating the city’s skyline and lakefront with the sleek elegance of the Art Deco era. Ragan, an American commercial illustrator renowned for his refined, streamlined style, often distilled destinations into bold forms and luminous atmosphere. Here, Chicago emerges as a modern metropolis—evocative of industry, architecture, and the irresistible pull of the Great Lakes. The palette is unmistakably cool and modern: deep blues anchor the scene, greens soften the urban edges, and accents of yellow lend a hint of sunlit optimism.

This listing offers a premium fine art reproduction of the original poster, available on acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. Printed with museum-grade inks, each piece is crafted to last and can be ordered in a range of sizes. The Unique Maps Co. can frame your print, add personalized titling or a dedication, and tailor proportions to fit your space, making it easy to bring Chicago’s iconic allure into your home or office.

Leslie Ragan (1897–1972) built his reputation creating sophisticated travel imagery for major American railroads and airlines. Working at the height of the interwar period and into the mid-century, Ragan perfected a graphic language of clean geometry, dramatic lighting, and serene atmospherics—an aesthetic that conveyed speed, glamour, and confidence. His posters remain some of the most collectible and recognizable images of American travel art.

Chicago is an ideal subject for Ragan’s visual vocabulary. As the nation’s great crossroads—linked by rail lines, waterways, and air routes—the city captured the imagination of travelers seeking modernity and momentum. In this composition, you can feel that metropolitan energy: the city’s vertical thrust and waterfront setting are distilled into crisp, architectural shapes that communicate ambition and movement without clutter. The effect is both romantic and resolutely modern, a love letter to the skyline and the lake that frame it.

Ragan’s mastery of color and light sets the tone. The poster’s dominant blue establishes depth and cool clarity; layered greens suggest the reflective water and parks; and judicious touches of yellow add highlights that guide the eye and impart a warm, inviting glow. The streamlined geometry and careful gradients create a polished, cinematic atmosphere—an elegant focal point for an entryway, study, or living room. Owning this print means owning a piece of design history: a timeless expression of Chicago’s architectural poise and lakeside grandeur.

Whether you’re commemorating a trip, celebrating hometown pride, or searching for a stylish, conversation-starting gift, this vintage travel poster reproduction makes a thoughtful choice. Perfect for Christmas, housewarmings, Father’s or Mother’s Day, or for anyone who has recently visited or moved to Chicago, it brings the city’s spirit—clear, cool, and confident—into any space.

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.