During the second half of the 19th century, the development of transportation enabled a strong increase in tourism in Europe. Timetables decorated with small black and white engravings were displayed in railway stations.
As early as 1890, the railway companies put up the first real travel posters, inviting travellers to visit historical sites and bucolic landscapes.
Hugo d’Alési was the most prolific creator of travel posters during the Belle Epoque. Working in a similar style, Henri Tanconville also designed a series of travel posters.
At the turn of the century, a different approach to travel posters emerged - from then on, a single image with shorter text became the norm.
From the 1920s. Poster artists abandoned the romanticism and arabesques of the Art Nouveau style in favour of geometric and monumental forms borrowed from Cubism and Futurism and embraced the Art Deco style.
This is part 1 of a 7-part series on French Travel Posters:
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| 1893 Montreux, Chemin de fer Territet-Glyon aux Rochers de Naye artist: Peter Balzer |
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| c1895 Le Tréport artist: Henri Gray |
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| c1895 Le Tréport-Mers, Chemin de fer du Nord artist: Henri Gray |
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| c1895 Station Thermale Lamalou les Bains artist: M. Pallandre |
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| c1895 Vals-les-Bains Ardèche P.L.M. artist: Frédéric Hugo d'Alesi |
P.L.M. posters
Founded in 1857, P.L.M. (Paris to Lyon and Méditerranée Railway Company) was the largest of the private French railway companies. Until 1937 P.L.M. printed hundreds of travel of now highly collectible posters. Five private railway companies shared the French market: P.L.M., Chemins de fer d’Orléans et du Midi, Chemins de fer du Nord, Chemins de fer de l”Est, and Chemins de fer de l’Ouest. The Companies merged in 1937 to create S.N.C.F.
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| c1895 Voyages à Prix Réduits artist: Gustave Fraipont |
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| 1896 Excursions en Normandie & Bretagne artist: Georges Meunier |
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| 1900 Menton artist: Frédéric Hugo d'Alesi |
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| 1900 Vichy PLM artist: Henri Ganier Tanconville |
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| c1900 Grottes et Cascades de Baume Chemins de Fer de Paris Lyon Méditerranée artist: Henri Tanconville |
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| c1900 Cie de Navigation Mixte & Touache artist: Frédéric Hugo d'Alesi |
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| c1900 Chemins de fer du Midi Lourdes artist: Frédéric Hugo d'Alesi |
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| 1900c Chemins de Fer de Paris Lyon Méditerranée Grottes & Cascade de Baume artist Henri Tanconville |
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| c1900 Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest et de Brighton artist: René Péan |
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| c1900 Brides-les-Bains et Salins-Moutiers P.L.M. Savoie artist: Henri de Taconville |
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| c1900 Allevard les Bains Billets à Prix Réduits P.L.M. artist: Frédéric Hugo d’Alesi |
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| c1900 Lac D'Annecy artist: Frédéric Hugo d’Alesi |
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| c1900 Le Mont-Blanc artist: François Charles Cachoud |
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| c1900 Le Mont-Blanc en Chemin de Fer artist: Georges Meunier |
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| c1900 Menton artist: Frédéric Hugo d’Alesi |
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| c1900 San Salvador - Pres Hyères artist: Frédéric Hugo d’Alesi |
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| c1900 Vichy Billets à Prix Réduits. artist: Louis Tauzin |
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| c1900 Vichy - Chemins de fer PLM Billets a Prix Réduits artist: Ploz |
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| 1901 Evian Chemins de fer Paris-Lyon-Méditérranée artist: Henri Ganier Tanconville |
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| 1902 Gorges du Fier Près Annecy (Artist unknown) |
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| 1903 Cie. Gle. de Navigation sur le Lac Leman artist: Anton Reckziegel |
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| c1903 Grottes de la Balme, Dauphiné PLM artist: Marce Jacquier |
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| 1905 Paris Lyon Mediterranee Sens artist: Henri Polart |
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| c1905 Les Vosges, Vallée de Gérardmer artist: Frédéric Hugo d'Alesi |
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| c1905 Littoral de la Méditterranée - P.L.M. artist: Henri Ganier Tanconville |
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| c1905 Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée Mont Blanc, Chamonix artist: H.J |
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| c1905 Royat Chemins de fer de Paris. Lyon. Méditerranée (artist unknown) |
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| 1906 Chemin de fer Électrique du Valais à Chamonix artist: Jean-Édouard Ravel |
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| 1907 La Creuse, La Sedelle à Crozant Chemin de fer d' Orléans artist: Coulange Lautrec |
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| c1910 Auvergne Chemin de Fer d'Orléans artist: Moreno |
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| c1910 Bretagne Chemin de Fer d'Orléans artist: Moreno |
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| c1910 Cauterets Chemins de Fer d'Orléans & du Midi artist: Constant Duval |
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| c1910 Gèneve et Le Mont-Blanc artist: Mario Borgoni |
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| c1910 Laon Chemins de Fer du Nord et de L'Est artist: Carot |
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