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L’Oeuvre edite, ce que sera LA GRANDE PAIX, circa 1917

SKU: 6069
Original lithographic poster
published by L’‚âà√≠uvre de Parrains de Reuilly and printed by
Pichot Imprimerie, Paris 
45 1/2 x 31 in. (115.6 x 78.7 cm.)

Presentation:
folio

Size:
Height – 115.6cm x Width – 78.7cm

DESCRIPTION

This poster relates to H. G. Wells 88 page book, published in 1917, Nouvelles anticipations : ce que sera la grande paix.

Wells  supported Britain in the First World War despite his many criticisms of British policy, and opposed, in 1916, moves for an early peace. In an essay published that year he acknowledged that he could not understand those British pacifists who were reconciled to “handing over great blocks of the black and coloured races to the [German Empire] to exploit and experiment upon” and that the extent of his own pacifism depended in the first instance upon an armed peace, with “England keep[ing] to England and Germany to Germany”.

Three young women, representing Britain, the United States of America and France, dance together in a circle, holding hands with another, partially visible, woman. Their nationality is indicated through their clothing, which is decorated in the colours or patterns of their country’s flags. The American and French women also wear Phrygian caps.

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THE ARTIST

Bernard Becan
Bernard
Becan
1890 - 1943
Becan, born in Paris, was a draftsman, lithographer, etcher, engraver, illustrator, and poster designer who lived and worked in Paris. During the First World War he served  in the Foreign Legion and produced illustrations for journals and posters. After the war he continued his work as a graphic artist and illustrated a number of books for Louis Delluc Dekobra Maurice, Georges Simenon, Henri BŽ raud, Paul Morand, Joseph Kessel, RenŽ Jeanne and Louis Roubault. In 1943, partly in protest to being forced by the occupying Germans to wear a yellow star, he starved himself to death.
We are grateful to Chris Mees for his assistance.

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