This circa 1920 original railway poster by Constant Duval was produced for the Chemins de fer de l’État, promoting travel to Brittany and Normandy with reduced fares. Created during a flourishing period of railway tourism in France, the poster reflects the effort of state railways to encourage leisure travel to historic regional destinations rich in heritage and natural beauty.
The composition centres on the Porte de Fougères, part of the medieval castle fortifications in Ille-et-Vilaine, rendered in a decorative, almost painterly style typical of early twentieth-century French travel posters. The stone bridge, castle towers, and tranquil river landscape evoke a romantic vision of historic Brittany, blending architectural heritage with pastoral calm.
Duval’s use of flattened colour areas and stylised foliage gives the scene a modern graphic clarity while maintaining atmospheric depth. This balance between artistic stylisation and geographic identity was a hallmark of railway advertising, designed to both inform and inspire prospective travellers.
As a result, the poster stands today as a fine example of interwar French travel promotion — combining regional pride, historic imagery, and the persuasive appeal of affordable railway travel to Brittany and Normandy.
Original Poster
Railway - Tourism - Advertising - France
Fern Gate of the medieval castle of Ille-et-Vilaine
Printed by F. Champenois in Paris
Good condition, small tears repaired
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