FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DU FILM CANNES 1er-20 SEPTEMBRE 1939

Antique vintage posters from DOMERGUE JEAN GABRIEL
( 1889 - 1962 )

Asking reference: 8698

Printer, Edition, Brands, Fondeur : JED

Creation date: 1939

Size: 29.9 X 46.1 (inches) / 76.0 x 117.0 (cm)

Condition backing / Material :Linen (backed on acid-free paper and cotton canvas)

Condition: A- ( fine )

Price: On demand

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Jean-Gabriel Domergue

International Film Festival — Cannes, September 1–20, 1939

An exceptionally rare original poster designed by Jean-Gabriel Domergue for what was intended to be the very first International Film Festival of Cannes.

Created in 1939, the festival was conceived as France's answer to the political influence then surrounding the Venice Film Festival, with the ambition of establishing a truly independent international celebration of cinema. The opening was scheduled for September 1, 1939. On that very day, however, Germany invaded Poland, marking the beginning of the Second World War. The festival was immediately cancelled before it could officially begin. The Cannes Film Festival would not be inaugurated until 1946, after the end of the war.

Domergue's poster therefore stands as the witness to a unique moment in history: a prestigious international event that had been announced, organized, and eagerly awaited, only to be overtaken by one of the greatest tragedies of the twentieth century.

The composition perfectly reflects the elegance and glamour of the French Riviera. A sophisticated couple dressed in evening attire applauds, evoking the excitement and prestige of international cinema. The graceful female figure—so characteristic of Domergue's work—dominates the composition with her elongated silhouette, refined posture, and flowing gown, embodying the timeless chic of the Belle Époque and the Côte d'Azur.

Of extreme rarity, this poster is far more than a remarkable graphic work. It is a landmark document in the history of the Cannes Film Festival and an exceptional historical artifact from 1939. It announces the birth of an event that would eventually become the world's most prestigious film festival, while simultaneously bearing witness to its cancellation as Europe descended into war.

Today, this poster is regarded as one of the earliest and most historically significant visual symbols associated with the Cannes Film Festival. It represents not only the birth of a global cultural institution but also the dramatic interruption of that ambition by the outbreak of World War II.

Artist: Jean-Gabriel Domergue
Title: Festival International du Film – Cannes
Date: 1939
Technique: Original color lithograph
Format: 117x76cm
Subject: Announcement poster for the first Cannes International Film Festival, cancelled following the outbreak of World War II
Condition:A-

Historical significance: One of the rarest and most iconic surviving posters connected with the origins of the Cannes Film Festival, combining exceptional artistic quality with outstanding historical importance.