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Révolution Nationale

Poster
1940 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Marshal Philippe Pétain, 'The Victor of Verdun' and famous French general and statesman, became the authoritarian leader of Vichy France after the armistice with Germany was signed in June 1940. The Révolution Nationale was his highly conservative domestic policy which aimed at recreating France out of defeat by purging the country of 'moral decadence'. This simple portrait poster capitalises on Pétain's popularity as a father figure at the time. The tricolour, however, sits rather incongruously, its revolutionary associations contrasting with Pétain's conservatism.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRévolution Nationale (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Brief description
Second World War poster supporting the Vichy government, France, 1940
Physical description
Second World War poster supporting the Vichy government bearing a portrait of Marshal Philippe Pétain.
Dimensions
  • Height: 119.6cm
  • Width: 80.2cm
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Summary
Marshal Philippe Pétain, 'The Victor of Verdun' and famous French general and statesman, became the authoritarian leader of Vichy France after the armistice with Germany was signed in June 1940. The Révolution Nationale was his highly conservative domestic policy which aimed at recreating France out of defeat by purging the country of 'moral decadence'. This simple portrait poster capitalises on Pétain's popularity as a father figure at the time. The tricolour, however, sits rather incongruously, its revolutionary associations contrasting with Pétain's conservatism.
Other number
LS.390 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.1292-2004

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Record createdJune 15, 2004
Record URL
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