The Naked Maja (La Maja Desnuda) Ava Gardner – 1959

This is an original vintage Mexican one sheet poster (measuring approximately 27x41 inches) for La Maja Desnuda (The Naked Maja), the 1958 historical drama starring Ava Gardner and Anthony Franciosa, directed by Henry Koster. The artwork, vivid and romantic, emphasizes the sensuality of the film and features striking hand-drawn imagery, typical of Mexican poster design from the era. This version, printed in Technirama and Technicolor, was likely distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the Latin American market.

Condition Assessment: The poster is folded, as originally issued, with visible wear along the fold lines. Notably, there’s a significant chip in the upper left corner and some staining/toning visible on the back. Despite this, the colors remain rich and vibrant, and the poster retains strong visual appeal. The edges show minor tears, but no major paper loss beyond the corner.

Collector’s Notes:

“La Maja Desnuda” posters are highly desirable due to Ava Gardner’s iconic status and the art-history relevance of the Goya reference. This Argentinian version is particularly rare, with distinctive Latin typography and localized design different from U.S. or European issues. Ideal for collectors of classic 1950s cinema, Ava Gardner memorabilia, or foreign-market film art.