This circa 1930 original travel poster by L. Pécheny, featuring a photographic image by Pierre Dubure, was produced for the Chemins de fer de l’État railway network to promote tourism to one of France’s most iconic landmarks — Le Mont-Saint-Michel. It reflects the interwar period’s growing emphasis on rail travel as both accessible and culturally enriching.
The composition highlights the abbey rising dramatically above the tidal bay, its reflection mirrored in calm waters, while a small anchored boat in the foreground adds a human scale and sense of tranquility. The photographic realism combined with elegant typography typifies early 20th-century railway publicity, blending documentary imagery with refined graphic presentation.
Beyond its promotional function, the poster celebrates the timeless allure of Normandy’s historic landscape. It evokes pilgrimage, heritage, and scenic travel — themes central to French tourism advertising between the wars. Today, such posters are prized for their historical significance, aesthetic clarity, and their role in shaping modern travel imagery.
Original Poster
Tourism - Normandy - Railway - France
Photo Pierre Dubure - State Railways
Printed by Gaillard in Paris
Good condition, some creases, minor restorations
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