This original 1942 cinema poster was designed by Jean Colin for the film Sortilège exotique, a visually striking travel documentary produced during the Second World War. The poster is a powerful example of French illustrated cinema advertising from the early 1940s, combining sensuality, mysticism, and escapism at a time when audiences longed for distant horizons.
The composition is dominated by a monumental male figure painted in warm, sculptural tones, his body marked with symbolic white patterns that evoke ritual, spirituality, and trance. To the side, a smaller allegorical female figure adorned with serpents reinforces the film’s themes of exoticism and fascination with non-Western cultures. Set against a vivid blue background, the image immediately commands attention, blending fantasy and ethnographic imagery in a highly theatrical manner.
Jean Colin’s distinctive style is evident in the bold anatomy, dramatic lighting, and carefully balanced color palette. Active in French cinema poster design from the 1930s through the 1950s, Colin was known for his expressive figures and his ability to translate cinematic atmosphere into compelling graphic form. In Sortilège exotique, his artwork captures both the allure and the mystery promised by the film, transforming travel imagery into a dreamlike spectacle.
Printed during the Occupation years, this poster is also a historical artifact, reflecting the role of cinema as an escape from wartime reality. Today, it stands as a sought-after example of French illustrated film posters, prized for its artistic quality, striking iconography, and strong visual presence.
Original poster
Cinema - Colony
Made around the world by Alfred Chaumel and Geneviève Chaumel Gentil
French cinematography - Paris
Good condition, folds, tears in the folds
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