JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
This is certainly a successful design in describing fear and possibility for the near future and the security (or lack of it) for France. Nothing quite conveys temporal disruption than a consolidated mass of dark and sharp objects advancing on the home front.
- “La France qui a connu 4 fois l'invasion en 100 ans ne droit pas desarmer sans entre assuree de sa securite. Votz contre le cartel qui vent desarmer la France!” ("France, which has been invaded four times in 100 years, should not disarm with being assured of its security! Vote against the cartel that will disarm France!”)
The image is a moderate Right Wing political propaganda piece extolling people not to vote for a political group (unnamed but Left Wing) that would “disarm France” by referencing the four times that France has been invaded in the last 100 years (1814, 1815, 1870, and 1914). Design by Andre Galland and printed 1932-1936. The fifth invasion was already on its way, coming in 1940, when Germany simply did an end-run around the ill-conceived modern antique of the Maginot Line, after which the very large French army was slow to respond, with France surrendering 46 days later on 25 May 1940.
- In a tiny scroll script in the left margin reads: (translated) Propaganda Center of the National Republicans (Republicains Nationaux).
This is an effective design for sure, showing a mass of infantry and cavalry crossing the northern French border...so massive in fact that most figures blend into an almost-solid black mass save for the white streaks of rifles/bayonets.
I'm not sure what the intended use was for my copy of this image, which was originally produced as a poster, though this copy measures only 27x21cm. I don't know if it was meant as a flyer, or small poster, or if it was simply an illustration in a larger book. It is interesting, regardless. (This image is available on the bookstore side of this blog.) It is certainly worth sharing, though.
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