This 1961 original SNCF poster by René Genis celebrates the enduring appeal of Normandy’s coastline, promoting rail travel to one of France’s most beloved seaside regions. Produced during the post-war tourism boom, it reflects the French national railway’s effort to encourage leisure travel through evocative modern graphic design.
Genis presents a lively coastal scene: a sandy beach dotted with bathers, colourful beach huts lining the shore, and the shimmering Channel waters stretching toward the horizon. The elevated viewpoint — from a path beside traditional Norman architecture — creates a sense of arrival, as if the viewer has just stepped off the train to discover the coast.
Stylistically, the poster blends painterly softness with the simplified forms typical of mid-20th-century travel advertising. Fresh blues, greens, and warm sandy tones evoke relaxation, fresh sea air, and summer holidays — key themes in SNCF tourism campaigns of the period.
Today, this poster stands as both a charming example of 1960s French travel graphics and a nostalgic tribute to Normandy’s timeless attraction: accessible coastal escapes, regional character, and the romance of rail travel along France’s historic shores.
Original Poster
Railway - Tourism - Normandy - France
Printed by Paul Martial in Paris
Good condition, minor restorations
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