La politique des Cartellistes et socialistes Circa 1930

This original circa 1930 French political poster was designed by J. Sennep under the title La Politique des Cartellistes et Socialistes. Created during the politically turbulent interwar period, it attacks the Cartel des Gauches and Socialist politicians by accusing them of distributing prestigious public appointments among their allies.

Sennep transforms the expression “the cheeses of the Republic”, referring to desirable government positions, into a biting visual metaphor. Politicians portrayed as rats feast upon cheeses labelled Algeria, Indochina, Morocco and Musée Pédagogique, while a particularly large cheese is marked with the sum of 45,000 francs.

The restricted palette of red, black and cream gives the composition a bold and immediately recognisable appearance. Expressive caricatures, handwritten text and the decorative border combine the visual language of newspaper satire with the direct impact required for political street advertising.

The accompanying message refers to the financial crisis of 1926 and the return of Raymond Poincaré, presenting the Cartellistes and Socialists as wasteful opportunists who had exploited the French taxpayer. J. Sennep was a prominent French caricaturist celebrated for his sharp and frequently uncompromising portrayals of political figures.

A striking document of interwar French political propaganda, this original poster would make a fascinating addition to a collection devoted to caricature, electoral history, political satire or twentieth-century French graphic design.

Original Poster

Politics - Caricature - France

Propaganda Service

Printed in Paris

Good condition, small tears