This striking 1973 original poster was produced for the French national railway company SNCF to promote travel by train to the popular ski resorts of the French Alps. Created during a period when winter tourism was rapidly expanding, the poster encourages travelers to choose the train as the most convenient way to reach the mountains.
The design is notable for its bold and minimalist graphic style, characteristic of the visual language of the 1970s. At the center stands an oversized red glove mounted like a roadside signal, with its raised index finger pointing upward. Behind it, the stylized peaks of snow-covered mountains appear against a clear sky, while a sleek green train marked with the SNCF logo passes along the base of the image.
This playful composition cleverly links the gesture of the glove—resembling a signpost or direction indicator—with the idea of heading toward the mountains. The image suggests that the obvious choice for reaching the ski slopes is the train itself.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the SNCF invested heavily in promoting rail travel to Alpine resorts as winter sports became increasingly popular across Europe. New railway connections and coordinated transport services made it easier for travelers from cities such as Paris and Lyon to reach ski destinations quickly and comfortably.
Tourism posters played a key role in these campaigns, combining artistic creativity with clear promotional messages. Unlike earlier illustrated travel posters that often depicted detailed landscapes, designs from the 1970s frequently used simplified shapes, strong colors, and symbolic imagery to create memorable visual impact.
Today, posters like Pour aller aux sports d’hiver, le train are valued both as examples of innovative graphic design and as reminders of the era when railway companies actively shaped the development of winter tourism in the French Alps.
Original Poster
Railway - Sport - Tourism - France
Before Lettering
Printed by Charbillac in Toulouse
Good condition
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