Marine Nationale - Engagez-vous dans la marine Circa 1948

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

Good condition, traces of folds