1910s Movie Posters

Why this collection works on a wall

By the 1910s the one-reel novelty had grown into the feature film, and the first movie stars turned cinemagoing into a habit. Poster art from this decade has a refined, hand-drawn elegance — flowing Art Nouveau lines and stone-lithograph richness — that brings a literary, old-world calm to a wall. Set against painted walls or wood, the refined line-work and muted palette bring a literary, old-world calm that suits a quieter, more contemplative corner of the home.

How to choose your size

• Smaller prints are perfect for a reading nook, a shelf ledge or a grouped gallery wall, where two or three pieces can build a layered, collected look together.
• Medium prints are the dependable all-rounder above a desk, console, sofa or bed — large enough to read clearly from across the room without dominating it.
• Larger prints turn a study or feature wall into a genuine focal point, carrying colour, detail and presence at full scale for maximum impact.

How to frame it

Choose a thin antique-gold or matte-black frame and a generous mount; the period artwork suits a restrained, gallery-style presentation rather than anything bold or modern.

Whichever finish you choose, match the frame to the room rather than the artwork, keep mounts even on all sides, and hang the centre of the piece at roughly eye level so it sits in natural balance with the wall around it.

How to care for the print

Keep the print out of harsh, direct sunlight to protect the inks over the long term, and dust the surface now and then with a dry, soft cloth rather than any liquid cleaner. In busy, high-traffic rooms, framing under glass or non-reflective glazing adds a useful layer of protection against knocks and fingerprints. Treated this way, a quality matte print holds its depth and colour beautifully for many years.