Created circa 1947, this original poster by Belgian artist Gaston Van Den Eynde was produced to promote the Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program (ERP). With its elegant symbolism and optimistic message, the poster illustrates the central promise of the program: that cooperation between European nations would foster reconstruction, economic growth, and a higher standard of living after the devastation of the Second World War.
The composition is both simple and highly evocative. A young tree, its trunk supported by a sturdy wooden stake wrapped with the flags of participating European countries, rises toward a clear blue sky. Delicate blossoms bloom from its branches, symbolizing renewal, prosperity, and hope. The image conveys the idea that post-war Europe, though fragile, could flourish with mutual support and collective effort.
The slogan, "Par le Plan Marshall – Coopération Intereuropéenne pour un niveau de vie plus élevé" ("Through the Marshall Plan – Inter-European Cooperation for a Higher Standard of Living"), reinforces the visual metaphor. Rather than emphasizing politics or ideology, the poster presents reconstruction as a shared undertaking, rooted in collaboration between nations working toward common economic prosperity.
Introduced in 1947 by U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the European Recovery Program provided financial and technical assistance to Western European countries between 1948 and 1952. Beyond rebuilding industry and infrastructure, the program encouraged trade, economic integration, and cooperation among participating nations, laying important foundations for Europe's long-term recovery and eventual political integration.
Van Den Eynde's design reflects the refined graphic language that characterized many Marshall Plan posters produced across Europe. By replacing traditional propaganda imagery with a poetic natural symbol, he communicates the ideals of peace, stability, and sustainable growth with remarkable elegance. The restrained composition, balanced typography, and vivid accents of the European flags make the poster both visually sophisticated and historically significant.
Today, this original Marshall Plan poster is prized by collectors as an exceptional example of post-war graphic design and one of the most elegant visual expressions of the European Recovery Program. It occupies a unique place at the crossroads of political history, economic reconstruction, and twentieth-century poster art.
Original poster
Policy - Europe
European Recovery Program Plan Marshall
Mouton Cy The Hague
Good condition
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