Jeunesses musicales de France 1945

Emerging from the ashes of World War II, France sought not only to rebuild its cities and institutions, but also to rekindle its cultural flame. Among the many initiatives aimed at national renewal, Jeunesses Musicales de France (JMF) stood out as a profoundly hopeful gesture—a movement dedicated to making music a vehicle for unity, healing, and education.

This original 1945 poster, designed after the renowned artist Paul Colin, embodies the spirit of postwar rebirth. Renowned for his work with the Parisian avant-garde and theatrical posters, Colin’s visual language translated seamlessly into the ethos of JMF. The image features two golden winged figures suspended in a dreamlike blue sky, one holding a lyre, the other a trumpet—symbols of classical harmony and spirited call. They soar between soft clouds, their flight suggesting both liberation and aspiration.

The figures are stylized in a modernist tone, yet echo classical mythology, evoking muses or heralds. Behind them, an abstract wing-like shape reinforces the idea of musical flight, elevation, and cultural transcendence. At the top, the title "Jeunesses Musicales de France" asserts the national scope and youthful optimism of the organization.

Founded in Brussels during the war and quickly established in France in 1945, JMF aimed to democratize access to music and revive artistic life. Concerts were organized across the country for young audiences, often in schools or community halls, bringing both classical and contemporary music to places previously untouched by professional performance.

This poster was offered by Pathé Marconi, a major player in France’s musical and recording industries, and its presence at the bottom of the print marks the importance of collaboration between public initiatives and cultural institutions in the rebuilding of postwar France.

With its visual balance between mythology and modernity, lyricism and purpose, this poster is more than a call to cultural engagement—it is a testament to how art and music were central to France’s reimagining of itself after the war. Today, it stands as a rare and poetic artifact of postwar resilience and hope through the arts.

Childhood - Music - France

Pathe Marconi

R. Delione Paris

Good condition, creases, a small tear