“This poster announced an exhibition—more of a tribute—to the contribution of ‘France d’Outre-Mer’ (Overseas France) to the war effort. Explains Colin: ‘The French people didn’t know what had happened to its colonies. This poster was intended to show that we still had our territories. Different people but under the same flag. It was supposed to unite the French and the people from the colonies; the flag had to be restored. There was a great exhibit at the Grand Palais and I was asked to recreate the atmosphere of each colony—Madagascar, Ivory Coast, etc.—with the indigenous music, costumes, decor of each. I was there with de Gaulle and the Colonial Minister at the opening.’ Trophies, uniforms, banners, weapons, and other mementos of the war in the colonies were displayed, as well as native arts and crafts, and the theme of the entire exhibition was ‘France’s gratitude to her children’” (Colin, p. 10-11).
Imp. S. A. Courbet, Paris
literature: Colin, 74; Colin Affichiste, 131