Created in the historic final days of the German occupation of Paris, Paul Colin’s Marianne aux Stigmates is a profound and haunting visual allegory of France’s suffering and imminent rebirth. The figure of Marianne—symbol of the French Republic—is depicted here wounded but standing, with her right hand covering her eyes in pain or mourning, and stigmatic wounds bleeding from her palm and forehead. The visual reference to martyrdom and resurrection is immediate and unmistakable.
Executed in stark, limited tones—ochre, crimson, blue, and white—the work emphasizes both vulnerability and resolve. Colin, known for his bold Art Deco compositions, breaks with decorative flamboyance in favor of expressionist solemnity, making this image a deeply emotional response to national trauma.
The poster is dated August 17, 1944, just days before the Liberation of Paris, and was likely conceived as a statement of solidarity, grief, and the collective will to overcome. Unlike propagandist or celebratory images of the period, this piece is contemplative—a poetic and political testament by one of France’s most important poster artists.
Rather than a public call to action, this is a visual elegy—a silent cry in the language of art, where Marianne becomes both France and witness to her own ordeal and deliverance.
War 39-45 - Politics - France
Old canvas - Prefecture of the Seine
Good condition, traces of folds, restored tears
Sign up & benefit from discounts or exclusive offers.