Le crime national Circa 1908

This striking and provocative 1908 poster, titled Le Crime National, is a dramatic response to one of the most contentious political upheavals in French history: the Separation of Church and State. Printed in bold black ink on a vivid red-orange background, the poster was a call to arms, appealing directly to French voters who were alarmed by the government's secular policies.

At the heart of the controversy was the 1905 French law that officially ended the state’s recognition of any religion, marking a definitive break between the Catholic Church and the Republic. This legislation, seen by many as a triumph of secularism and democracy, was regarded by its opponents as an assault on the religious traditions and identity of France.

The poster fiercely condemns the senators who voted for the law, accusing them of committing a grave offense against God and the nation. It paints the law not as a progressive reform but as a “national crime”, an act of betrayal against the faithful and their spiritual heritage.

The visual elements of Le Crime National are unmistakably powerful. At the top, a radiant Christ figure, depicted in the style of religious iconography, raises his hand in a gesture of blessing and warning. Below him, a broken cross and a crumbling inscription reading “Et super hanc petram ædificabo Ecclesiam meam” (“Upon this rock, I will build my Church”) symbolize the destruction of religious authority.

Beneath Christ, grotesque and skeletal figures—possibly representing secular politicians or anti-clerical forces—are shown gnawing at the remnants of the Church, an apocalyptic vision of moral and spiritual decay. The poster’s intent is clear: to depict the secular government as a force of destruction, irreverence, and corruption.

Beyond its shocking imagery, the poster serves as a political manifesto, directly addressing Électeurs Français (“French voters”) in bold text. It denounces the 179 senators who voted for the separation, urging citizens to hold them accountable and reject the forces of secularism. The text presents the law as a betrayal of the nation's Christian values, likening it to historical persecutions against the Church.

This impassioned appeal reflects the broader conservative Catholic resistance to the Third Republic’s secular policies. The poster emphasizes that Christ will triumph over the forces of secularism, reinforcing the idea that divine justice will ultimately prevail.

Le Crime National is not just a historical artifact; it is a testament to the fierce ideological battles of early 20th-century France. While secularists celebrated the freedom from religious influence, Catholic conservatives saw it as an attack on their faith and way of life.

Today, this poster remains a powerful example of religious-political propaganda, reflecting the deeply entrenched divisions in French society at the time. It serves as a reminder of how art, media, and rhetoric have long been used to mobilize public opinion and shape political discourse.

Politics - Religion - Propaganda - France

Christ will always conquer!!!

Printed by Chambon in Auxerre

Good condition