Le printemps en France Paris 1966

This elegant 1966 French travel poster reproduces Raoul Dufy’s celebrated decorative screen Le Paravent de Paris, originally created between 1929 and 1930 and preserved at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. Photographed by Elser, the composition transforms Dufy’s vibrant and poetic vision of the capital into a refined promotional image celebrating Paris in springtime.

At the center of the composition rises the Eiffel Tower, rendered with remarkable lightness and decorative charm. Around it unfolds an imaginative panorama of Paris, where monuments, bridges, gardens, and boulevards appear in a stylized perspective. Rather than offering a realistic city view, Dufy creates a lyrical interpretation of Paris, filled with movement, rhythm, and color.

The foreground is richly filled with blooming flowers, roses, and foliage, reinforcing the theme announced in the title: Le Printemps en France. These floral elements frame the city like a garden in full bloom, adding softness and elegance to the composition while emphasizing the romantic identity long associated with Paris.

The palette is luminous and joyful. Pastel blues, pinks, greens, and warm touches of red create a dreamlike atmosphere characteristic of Dufy’s artistic language. The stylized clouds and simplified architectural forms give the scene an almost musical quality, a hallmark of the artist’s decorative approach.

Typography is used with restraint and sophistication. The flowing script of “Le Printemps en France” contrasts beautifully with the large, elegant “PARIS” below, grounding the image with the timeless refinement associated with mid-century French travel design.

Historically, this poster belongs to the golden age of tourism advertising, when France promoted its cultural identity through collaborations with modern art and celebrated artists. By reproducing Dufy’s celebrated work, the poster connects Paris not only with travel and beauty, but also with artistic heritage and modern French culture.

Today, the poster is appreciated both as a decorative travel image and as a tribute to one of the great figures of modern French art. Combining the charm of vintage tourism advertising with the unmistakable visual poetry of Raoul Dufy, it remains a timeless evocation of Paris, spring, and the French art de vivre.

Original Poster

Tourism - Paris - France

Poster reproducing Dufy's 1929-1930 screen at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris - Photo Elser

Edited by L. Delaporte Printed by La photolith in Paris

Good condition