This striking 1944 propaganda poster by Jean Carlu was created during the final phase of the Second World War, at a moment when France stood symbolically “between the hammer and the anvil.” The phrase refers to being caught between two powerful forces — here represented by the Allied powers on one side and Nazi Germany on the other.
The composition is boldly graphic and highly symbolic. A hammer bearing the flags of the Allied nations presses downward onto a fractured swastika, which rests upon an anvil marked with the Cross of Lorraine — emblem of the Free French resistance. The imagery conveys both tension and hope: France, though caught in conflict, participates in the destruction of Nazism and the liberation of Europe.
The poster’s headline translates as:
“Entre le marteau… et l’enclume !” — “Between the hammer… and the anvil!”
It suggests the harsh geopolitical reality of occupied France while affirming resilience and eventual victory.
Jean Carlu, one of the most influential French poster designers of the 20th century, was renowned for his powerful modernist visual language. His wartime posters combine clarity, symbolism, and emotional force, making them iconic examples of political graphic design.
Today, this piece is appreciated both as a historical wartime document and as a masterful example of mid-20th-century poster art, reflecting the intersection of design, politics, and national identity during a pivotal moment in history.
Original Poster
Politics - Propaganda - 1939-1945 - France
Printed by McCandlish in USA
Good condition, slight soiling
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