This original circa 1900 French poster was designed by Albert Feuillastre and is entitled La Malle de Normandie (1820). The date included in the title refers to the historical scene represented rather than the printing date of the poster.
The composition depicts a horse-drawn mail coach passing through a picturesque Norman village. Passengers crowd the roof, the driver guides the team of horses along the cobbled street, and local residents gather outside the inn to watch its lively arrival.
Feuillastre fills the scene with charming narrative details, including half-timbered houses, shop signs, village characters and a barking dog. Fine draughtsmanship and a restrained palette of brown, grey, red and muted green give the image the appearance of a delicately coloured period illustration.
Before the expansion of the railway network, mail coaches carried both passengers and correspondence between Paris and the French provinces. Feuillastre’s nostalgic interpretation captures the excitement and theatricality that accompanied the arrival of these important vehicles.
A charming historical document with considerable decorative appeal, this original poster would make an excellent addition to a collection devoted to Normandy, horse-drawn transport, French history or Belle Époque illustration.
Original poster
Transport - Normandy - France
Rundinettes n ° 16
Good condition, slight dirt, a restored tear
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