This elegant 1937 original poster by Paul Colin promotes the renowned spa resort of Bagnoles-de-l’Orne in Normandy, celebrated for its therapeutic waters, particularly for circulatory conditions such as varicose veins and phlebitis. Created during the golden age of French travel and health tourism posters, the work reflects both medical promotion and the aesthetic refinement typical of the interwar period.
Colin’s composition focuses on the lush wooded landscape surrounding the spa town. Tall trees frame a serene lake and winding paths, conveying calm, freshness, and restorative natural beauty — qualities closely associated with thermal cures at the time. His painterly style, vibrant greens, and subtle light effects give the poster a refined modernist character while retaining a strong decorative appeal.
Beyond its advertising purpose, the poster illustrates the broader cultural phenomenon of early 20th-century spa tourism in France, when thermal towns combined medical treatment, leisure, and scenic escape. Bagnoles-de-l’Orne was one of the country’s prominent destinations for such therapeutic stays.
Today, this poster is appreciated both as a collectible example of Paul Colin’s graphic mastery and as a historical document capturing the intersection of health tourism, landscape imagery, and Art Deco-era poster design.
Original Poster
Tourism - Medical - Orne - France
Printed by Chaix in Paris
Good condition, significant creases
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