France Festivals 1955 – Original Marcel Jacno French Tourism Mourlot Lithograph

An original French government tourism poster designed by the celebrated graphic artist and typographer Marcel Jacno for France’s 1955 festival season. It advertises cultural events taking place throughout France between April and September 1955. Its English-language itinerary lists festival dates in Cannes, Nantes, Paris, Bordeaux, Avignon, Menton, Vichy and numerous other French cultural centres.
Jacno’s striking design presents three theatrical plumes arranged as a bouquet in the red, white and blue of the French tricolour. The bold stencil lettering is characteristic of his influential mid-century graphic work and closely related to the Chaillot typeface he developed for the Théâtre National Populaire.
A poster that is unremittingly French and oozing with French national pride.
Artist: Jacno
Provenance: Ministère des Travaux Publics, des Transports et du Tourisme — Direction Générale du Tourisme — Printed in France — Published by and for the French Government — Mourlot imp.
Printing method: Original colour lithograph
Dimensions: 37.5 in x 25.5 in (96 cm x 65 cm)
Condition: light centre fold, some rough edges, see photos.

Marcel Jacno (1904–1989) was an important French graphic designer, poster artist and typographer—not the later musician who also used the name Jacno.
Among his best-known achievements were:
- Redesigning the famous Gauloises cigarette packaging
- Creating identities and posters for the Théâtre National Populaire
- Designing the stencil-style Chaillot typeface
- Work for France-Soir, Guerlain, Courvoisier and Shell
- Posters and graphic material for French theatre and cultural institutions
The heavy black stencil lettering used here is closely related to Jacno’s Chaillot alphabet, introduced in 1954 and used extensively in his theatrical designs.

These posters are sent as unframed. They will be sent in a cardboard tube for protection.

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