JEAN CARLU (1900-1997) PACIFIQUE 45. 1945. 60x40 inches. S. A. Courbet, Paris. Condition B: restoration and repaired tears in margins and image; creases in image. Carlu spent the war year in the United States, where he created some of his best work for the war effort, with pieces like Production and Give Them Both Barrels. He visited France briefly in 1945, and while there designed this poster for the screening of an American film about the war in the Pacific. It was a one-night show at the Paris Opera celebrating liberty and victory. The simplicity with which he shows a Japanese plane being shot down is superb. This poster held a special place in Carlu's heart. Produced during one night in a time when ink and paper were in short supply, Carlu has said that this image had an unusually small run, which he estimated to be from 200-300. This is only the third time this poster has come to auction. Carlu 60.
