How to Frame an Old Poster

This poster has travelled. I bought it for one of my first apartments while at university. I had forgotten all about it, until I went to visit my sister in San Diego. She had it up on the wall inside her small beachside studio. Recently, I helped her move to NYC, and I took the poster home with me. Between the two of us, it has probably seen the insides of ten different apartments, and who knows how long it spent in a storage unit. It’s no wonder that there’s dozens of creases through the middle and the edges are tattered and frayed.

George Auriol

I bought the poster when I was studying French history and design. It’s an advertisement for the Chat Noir Theatre Company in Paris by George Auriol. These illustrations were popular for theaters and playbills at the time. Here are a few more examples of Auriol’s art:

I remember seeing the poster at my sister’s apartment for the first time in years and just falling in love all over. The black standing boldly against her white walls. The ghostly daffodils blowing lightly in the wind. The 1920’s French flair. I thought to myself, well it’s pretty beat up, but maybe I could fix it.

How to Revive an Old Poster

1. Find a frame that is slightly smaller than your poster. There are lots of options for affordable frames on Amazon. You may already have a frame that will work in storage. I found the frame for my poster at Walmart for less than $10.
2. “Crop” your poster. You should be able to cut the edges off your poster without losing too much content. Be creative and see what works. Start on the short edges. The bottom and top will be easiest to slice off. Whenever possible, cut with the blade on the side you will be tossing. That way if the blade goes off course, your main product is not affected.
3. Find a spot to hang it and enjoy!

Video

Helpful Tools

1. Rotary Cutter
2. Self Healing Mat
3. Straight Edge
4. Paper Weight

I resized the poster from its original 24×36 inches down to 22×34.375″.

Kintsukuroi

Kintsukuroi or kintsugi is a Japanese art form where broken pottery is repaired with gold. The idea is that when something is cracked or chipped, and then repaired, the object is more beautiful for having been broken.

The flaws in my poster didn’t break it. They are just a part of its story and only add to its vintage charm.

Notes on Framing an Old Poster

I look at the poster now, and remember that life can make us feel flawed too. Sometimes we fall from walls and get crinkled in moves. We have to choose to see ourselves as better because of it. We have to be able to see the silver lining.

Now that this poster is protected, maybe one day I can give it to my daughter or niece when they go to college. I can tell her, this poster has travelled, just like your aunt and me. And you will travel too.

I hope you have something at home that has travelled and you’ve held on to and can repair. Please let me know about it in the comments!

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