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Bernard VillemotCirca 1948 original recruitment poster by Villemot - French NavyCirca 1948
Circa 1948
$2,395.61
£1,791.96
€2,000
CA$3,301.04
A$3,628.65
CHF 1,905.02
MX$43,147.25
NOK 24,464.83
SEK 22,284.82
DKK 15,242.07
About the Item
This striking original recruitment poster, created around 1948 by the celebrated French graphic artist Bernard Villemot, boldly calls on citizens to “Engagez-vous dans la Marine” — enlist in the French Navy. Commissioned by the Marine Nationale, France’s national naval force, this poster belongs to the post-WWII wave of military propaganda, aimed at rebuilding and modernizing the French military through national pride and sleek modern design.
In a masterstroke of minimalist graphic art, Villemot transforms traditional military iconography into an almost abstract composition of flat planes and silhouette geometry. The massive aircraft carrier dominates the lower left corner, its conning tower cutting sharply into the sky. Above, a squadron of stylized fighter planes cuts across the serene blue background, one of them showing an enlarged insignia with an anchor at the heart of the French roundel—a nod to aerial maritime power and the Navy’s aviation arm.
This image captures the spirit of renewal and technical confidence in postwar France: precision, progress, and patriotism, distilled into a disciplined color palette of navy blue, grey, and white with a touch of red. Villemot’s design is resolutely modern, informed by constructivist influence and the emerging language of mid-century commercial art—a precursor to his later advertising work for brands like Orangina, Bally, and Air France.
Printed by Robert Beaudé in Paris, the poster exemplifies the clean typographic layout and bold messaging typical of official governmental publications in the immediate postwar period. It is both a piece of military history and an icon of French graphic design, showcasing Villemot’s early mastery of balance, silhouette, and impactful messaging.
Today, it stands as a rare and collectible artifact, equally prized by enthusiasts of military ephemera, modernist poster design, and the legacy of one of France’s most influential 20th-century illustrators.
Navy - Military - France
Aircraft Carrier
Printed by Hubert Baille
Cie in Paris
- Creator:Bernard Villemot (1911 - 1989, French)
- Creation Year:Circa 1948
- Dimensions:Height: 45.67 in (116 cm)Width: 29.93 in (76 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Condition:Good condition, traces of folds, on linen.
- Gallery Location:PARIS, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1792217243512
Bernard Villemot
Villemot, one of the leading graphic designers in France during the post-war period, is regarded as one of France's most talented twentieth-century poster artists. He was the subject of retrospective exhibitions at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs and the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris between 1980 and 2000. Belonging to the movement that moved towards an international graphic style after the Bauhaus and de Stijl, Villemot's advertising clients included Air France, Perrier, Orangina, and Bergasol. His work is characterized by vivid colors, thin outlines, and abstract and organic forms.
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