Images Jacques Prévert 1957

This evocative original poster was produced in 1957 to announce the exhibition “Images – Jacques Prévert”, held at the Librairie Adrien Maeght, located at 42 rue du Bac in Paris. Far from a conventional literary announcement, the poster reflects the poetic, surreal, and slightly unsettling universe that defines the work of Jacques Prévert.

Set against a deep black background, the composition stages a mysterious, theatrical scene: a puppet-like figure holding a stick, illuminated by candlelight, faces two small doll figures perched on a bed. This dreamlike imagery echoes Prévert’s fascination with childhood, popular imagery, collage, and the blurred boundary between innocence and menace. The visual language feels intimate and nocturnal, inviting the viewer into a private world of imagination rather than offering a literal description of the exhibition.

The handwritten red lettering—“images” and “Jacques Prévert”—introduces a striking contrast against the darkness. Its spontaneous, almost playful appearance recalls Prévert’s own poetic style: direct, emotional, and defiantly anti-academic. Typography here is not merely informational but expressive, reinforcing the personal and artistic tone of the exhibition.

Printed for a short exhibition running from 17 May to 5 June 1957, the poster exemplifies the Maeght circle’s approach to graphic design, where artists and writers were given unusual creative freedom. Rather than promoting a single book or event, it announces a broader visual and poetic universe—Prévert’s world translated into images.

Today, Images – Jacques Prévert stands as a highly desirable piece of postwar French cultural history. It embodies the convergence of poetry, visual art, and graphic design that defined Parisian intellectual life in the 1950s, and remains a powerful testament to Prévert’s enduring influence beyond the written word.

Original Poster

Exhibition - Literature

Adrien Maeght Bookstore - Devaye

Printed by Union in Paris

Good condition