Paris se libère 1944

This powerful original 1944 poster titled Paris se libère (“Paris is liberated”) was created by artist René Brantonne to commemorate the uprising and liberation of the French capital from Nazi occupation, an event that unfolded between August 18 and August 25, 1944.

Commissioned by L’Avenir-Garde, the youth journal of the French Communist resistance, this wartime piece celebrates the unity and bravery of the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) and the Parisian population. At the top, two portraits honor key figures of the Resistance: Colonel Rol-Tanguy, military leader of the Paris FFI, and Colonel Fabien, a Communist fighter remembered for his bold resistance acts early in the occupation.

The central scene bursts with energy and urgency—civilians, fighters, and Resistance members battle against German forces in the heart of Paris, with the Place de la République in the background engulfed in flames and revolution. Women, children, and armed workers surge forward together, symbolizing the collective strength that reclaimed their city.

Brantonne’s distinctive style—dynamic compositions, vivid faces, and bold heroic framing—captures not just the physical liberation of Paris, but the emotional and ideological fervor that accompanied it. It is as much propaganda as it is commemoration, designed to rally pride, memory, and unity in a newly freed nation.

Today, Paris se libère stands as a vital visual artifact of World War II and French Resistance history. It is sought after by collectors of political ephemera, wartime propaganda, and French 20th-century history. Original prints like this are rare and moving tributes to the courage of everyday citizens who stood up and fought for their city.

Guerre 39-45 - France

Liberation of Paris FFi Colonel Fabien - Colonel Roll Tanguy

The avant-garde

Très bon état