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Lisez et abonnez-vous a "REALISME"

Poster
ca. 1944-1946 (made)
Artist/Maker
Imprimerie J.E.P. Paris (printers)
Ben (designer)
Place of origin
France (made)

This poster advertises RÉALISME, a periodical that claims to reveal what the other media sources conceal from the public. The poster shows a caricature of Charles de Gaulle carrying French communist leader Maurice Thorez in his arms. The suitcase stickers on Thorez's valise draw attention to Moscow, Berlin and Basel - his destinations during World War II, when he was a war deserter. Probably dating to the years immediately after World War II, this poster takes as its subject matter the French government's relationship to communist politics - it suggests that this relationship is absurd and overly involved.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Propaganda
Advertising
Posters
Object type
Poster
TitleLisez et abonnez-vous a "REALISME" (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Block printing and lithography on paper
Paper
Ink
Brief description
French propaganda poster by Ben, advertising "REALISME" journal. Imprimerie J.E.P. Paris.
Physical description
Caricature illustrating French Communist leader Maurice Thorez in the arms of Charles de Gaulle. On yellow paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 85.2cm
  • Width: 61.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • -J'ai fait don de sa personne à la France!

    Translation
    I'm donating him to France!

  • BEN

    Note
    illustrator's signature

  • (Extrait du Cirque AMER, édité par le Rire)

    Note
    source of BEN's original image

  • Lisez et abonnez-vous a/ "RÉALISME"/ qui vous révèle tout ce que la presse conformiste ne vous dit pas/ En vente chez tous les dépositaires

    Translation
    Read and subscribe to "REALISM" [the periodical] that reveals what the conformist press won't tell you - available at all book depositories

  • "REALISME" 51, Boulevard Saint-Michel - PARIS-Ve

  • Imprimerie J.E.P., 7, rue Cadet - PARIS (9e)

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
Politics
Propaganda
Publications
Periodicals
De Gaulle, Charles
Thorez, Maurice
Place depicted
France
Summary
This poster advertises RÉALISME, a periodical that claims to reveal what the other media sources conceal from the public. The poster shows a caricature of Charles de Gaulle carrying French communist leader Maurice Thorez in his arms. The suitcase stickers on Thorez's valise draw attention to Moscow, Berlin and Basel - his destinations during World War II, when he was a war deserter. Probably dating to the years immediately after World War II, this poster takes as its subject matter the French government's relationship to communist politics - it suggests that this relationship is absurd and overly involved.
Other number
LS.291 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.28-2004

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Record createdJanuary 27, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O108828/lisez-et-abonnez-vous-a-poster-ben/
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