This circa 1930 original gouache by J. Hurey promotes Chamonix Mont-Blanc as both a winter and summer resort, reflecting the growing popularity of Alpine tourism during the early 20th century. The composition cleverly contrasts the seasons: a skier evokes winter sports while a lightly dressed figure holding flowers symbolizes summer leisure in the mountains.
Executed in gouache — a medium prized for its opacity and vibrant color — the work combines painterly softness with the clarity required for poster design. The sweeping Alpine landscape, dominated by Mont Blanc, conveys both grandeur and accessibility, reinforcing Chamonix’s identity as a premier destination for nature, sport, and relaxation.
Such tourism imagery played an important role in shaping the modern perception of the Alps, highlighting year-round recreation rather than purely mountaineering pursuits. Today, this piece is appreciated not only as promotional art but also as a charming historical snapshot of early mountain tourism and interwar graphic style.
Gouache
Tourism - Skiing - Haute-Savoie - France
Good condition, creases, small tears
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