Panorama de la bataille de la Marne Circa 1915

This original circa 1915 lithographic poster by artist T. Sala, titled Panorama de la Bataille de la Marne, stands as a compelling and highly rare visual testament to one of the defining moments of the First World War. Conceived as a triptych panorama, the piece captures the dramatic scale and strategic complexity of the First Battle of the Marne—a pivotal Allied victory that halted the German advance toward Paris and fundamentally reshaped the trajectory of the war.

Executed with remarkable detail and cinematic breadth, Sala’s composition places the viewer among French and British officers as they survey the battlefield from the vantage point of Saint-Gond. Below, a sweeping mass of troops—numbering in the hundreds of thousands—stretches across the landscape, while the skies above buzz with the silhouettes of early military biplanes. The effect is both monumental and immersive, offering a striking bird’s-eye view of a battle that changed the course of history.

Though the exact publication date remains uncertain, the poster was likely produced shortly after the events of 1914, capturing both the immediacy of war reporting and the visual drama associated with early 20th-century patriotic art. The work embodies a key moment when art, propaganda, and historical documentation converged.

Original examples of this poster are exceptionally scarce. Only two institutional holdings have been identified to date—one in France, and one in the Princeton University Posters Collection, housed in the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History. This underscores its extreme rarity and cultural value, making it a significant acquisition for collectors of military history, early 20th-century prints, or wartime ephemera.

Artist T. Sala brings both clarity and gravitas to the scene. His illustrative approach combines the narrative depth of panoramic battle paintings with the immediacy of poster art. The use of the triptych format enhances the sense of scale and coordination involved in the Allied defense, while also reflecting the stylistic conventions of epic history painting adapted for mass communication.

More than just a collectible, this Panorama de la Bataille de la Marne is a powerful historical artifact—an artwork that bridges the line between reportage, patriotic morale-boosting, and commemoration. Its visual scale and rarity make it a standout piece in any serious collection of World War I materials or early propaganda art.

War - 14-18 - Map - France

Leopold Verger & Cie - Paris

Good condition, slight losses, one tear