French WWI National Defense Poster 26" x 19¼"

From Patricia Wells’ personal collection at Chanteduc, this French World War I school-competition poster combines a soldier’s blue helmet, leafy laurel branches and flowing tricolor ribbons above an arrangement of French banknotes. Its bold lettering urges citizens to “Lend your banknotes to France” and purchase national defense bonds, turning an appeal for financial support into a striking patriotic composition. The lower inscription identifies the designer as a pupil at the school at 221 Boulevard Pereire in Paris. Part of the group of schoolchildren’s posters Patricia and Walter collected for their Provence farmhouse, it offers a distinctive glimpse of wartime France through a young artist’s eyes. Deep blue and green tones contrast with coral red and the warm, timeworn paper. Printed on paper and presented behind glass with a cream mat and slender red frame. Condition and wear consistent with age and use. Approx. overall 26" high x 19¼" wide x 1¼" thick Approx. overall 66cm high x 49cm wide x 3cm thick