This stunning circa 1940 original travel poster, designed after Kaeppelin, transports the viewer to the heart of Le Puy-en-Velay, a historic gem in the Auvergne region of central France. Issued by the SNCF (French National Railways), this artwork was part of a mid-20th century campaign to promote France’s rich cultural and spiritual destinations.
The composition is a masterclass in stylized architecture and color harmony. Towering cathedrals, angular rooftops, and winding stone streets rise dramatically against the backdrop of volcanic peaks and deep skies, rendered in a striking palette of sage green, soft rose, and warm creams. The centerpiece is undoubtedly the Romanesque Cathedral of Notre-Dame du Puy, dramatically set into the hillside, commanding the view both spiritually and visually.
Marked with the elegant subtitle “Ville d’Art – Ville Sainte”, this poster speaks to Le Puy’s unique blend of artistic heritage and religious significance—a pilgrimage site and the starting point of one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela.
The stylized modernist influence seen in the rendering of the town's forms and shadows reflects the aesthetic trends of the 1930s–40s in French poster art, while still honoring the medieval soul of the city. Kaeppelin’s name is associated with poetic, almost dreamlike evocations of place, and this piece is no exception.
A true collector's piece for lovers of vintage French travel posters, spiritual destinations, or the iconic SNCF aesthetic, this lithograph is a nostalgic and reverent ode to one of France’s most treasured historic towns.
Railway - Rhône - Alps
SNCF - City of Art, Holy city by the road of Auvergne
Modern Andrezieux
Good condition, soiling
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