Oberehnheim Obernai Alsace 1912

This rare 1912 original poster by Fernand Schultz-Wettel promotes the historic town of Obernai, here referred to by its German name Oberehnheim, reflecting the region’s complex cultural identity at the time.

Rendered in a delicate sepia palette, the composition presents a panoramic view of the fortified town nestled at the foot of the Mont Sainte-Odile. Medieval towers, half-timbered houses, and church spires rise above the surrounding countryside, evoking a timeless and pastoral vision of Alsace.

The bilingual inscription—German and French—highlights the dual heritage of the region in the early 20th century, when Alsace was under German administration following the Franco-Prussian War. This cultural layering is a defining feature of Alsatian identity and is subtly embedded in the poster’s typography and place names.

Schultz-Wettel’s style is illustrative and atmospheric, closer to lithographic drawing than bold modernist design. The emphasis is on heritage, tranquility, and historical charm, appealing to early tourism at a time when rail travel was opening access to picturesque regional destinations.

Unlike later, more graphic travel posters, this work feels almost like a printed etching—quiet, detailed, and romantic. It captures Obernai not as a destination of spectacle, but as a place of memory and tradition.

Today, this poster stands as both a beautiful piece of early tourism advertising and a historical document, reflecting Alsace’s shifting identity on the eve of the First World War.

Original poster

Tourism - Alsace - France

Am Fusse Des ST. Odilienberges - At the foot of Mont Ste Odile

Hermann Schuler Berlin

Good condition, light restorations