Monaco PLM Circa 1925

This elegant circa 1925 original travel poster by Étienne Clérissi promotes Monaco for the PLM railway company (Paris–Lyon–Méditerranée), one of the great producers of luxury travel advertising in France during the early 20th century. The composition offers a breathtaking elevated view of the coastline, with the peninsula and its fortified architecture extending into the dazzling blue waters of the Mediterranean. Lush vegetation in the foreground, including agave and exotic coastal plants, frames the scene, enhancing the sense of sun-drenched beauty and refined escape that Monaco represented in the interwar years.

Clérissi’s style combines painterly richness with a carefully constructed sense of atmosphere. The colours are warm and luminous, capturing the play of light on sea, sky, and stone, while the sweeping curve of the bay leads the eye gracefully through the landscape. Posters of this period often emphasised elegance, leisure, and sophistication, and this work fits perfectly within that tradition—presenting Monaco as both a natural paradise and a cultured destination associated with luxury, glamour, and the Riviera lifestyle.

Produced when railway travel was at its peak and posters were a primary tool of tourism promotion, this work is not only a beautiful image but also a piece of cultural history. It reflects the romantic vision of the French Riviera that captivated travellers of the 1920s and continues to shape its identity today. Stylish, evocative, and artistically refined, it remains a superb example of classic PLM poster art.

Original Poster

Railway - Tourism - French Riviera - France

Monaco National Tourist Office - Monte Carlo

Printed by Sadag in Bellegarde

Good condition, slight soiling